Our History

About Us

Amazing Grates are one of the UK’s leading suppliers of luxury fireplaces, stoves, architectural design and outdoor living products. Across our wood burning, multi-fuel, gas and electric products, we strive to create the future of fire. Each of our heating products is the result of decades of expert craftsmanship and class-leading innovation – representing the pinnacle of British engineering.

Amazing Grates has a substantial showroom in East Finchley, north London with many fireplaces on display ranging in period from the Georgian era, through the Victorian to the Arts and Crafts, Edwardian and contemporary. We particularly specialise in marble and limestone mantelpieces but these days there is a great emphasis on energy efficient fires be it to burn wood, a carbon neutral process, or highly efficient gas fires. Electric and bio fuel are increasing in popularity too.

Amazing Grates started in the spring of 1979, we had just moved into a substantial house that needed everything – from the foundations up – renovated and updated. We had moved back from the hills of mid Wales restoring furniture to return to the capital with our then 4 young children. The Victorian fireplaces were intact throughout the house but we decided to remove three from the bedrooms and sell them in the antique trade, but no one was interested. Three months later we put an advertisement in the Ham and High local newspaper – the response was wonderful – not only did we receive about 250 replies but in particular we met other people who shared an interest in restoring period houses. Not so commonplace then!

We opened our first shop in Kentish Town in August 1979 and moved to our current premises in East Finchley, opening the doors on 1 April 1982. Initially we worked on sourcing and renovating original fireplaces, mostly cast iron from the Victorian era but also Georgian and Edwardian pieces. In time our experiences took us to marble and stone mantelpiece restoration, giving us an invaluable insight and understanding of their construction. Our workshops – which were at the rear of our premises – moved to Hertfordshire where we specialised in the manufacture of mantels.

We were the first in reproducing truly authentic copies of the Arts and Crafts, the Victorian corbel, Georgian Roundel, Regency Bullseye and Charlotte to name a few.
There is however an interest in contemporary style and we have duly developed several designs that embrace the discerning modernistas. Within the Oliver mantel for instance, we have absorbed the detail from a piece dating from 1780 – incorporated it with a simple frame and shelf – and thereby aligned it with the sleeker and more linear demands of modern design. The result being a fresh interpretation of the simple classically inspired form prevalent in Regency Britain. Alternatively the Stonehenge – aptly named by a member of the family – was first developed by us some 20 years ago and is still being installed in period houses and flats as well as contemporary apartments.

There were also more contemporary designs such as the Hamptons, the Matrix and the William all of which are still proving popular.
With the fullness of time we stepped back from manufacturing ourselves and one of our masons now
has his own business which supplies us with much of what we need using marble, limestone and granite.

There has been a shift of emphasis and input as there are so many considerations and so much knowledge required to keep up with what is best practice these days. Two of the children in particular are very much involved with the running of the shop these days although there is always an opinion to be had from everyone including the grandchildren! Amazing Grates has never lost its
family ethos and expects that to continue.

We have supplied many fireplaces since 1979 to diverse organisation such as English Heritage to the Tate Gallery – architects and designers – film and television shows and sending fireplaces to many countries in the world. In the showroom we find that the majority of our time is spent supplying beautiful, classic, simple fireplaces from all eras for individuals – whatever their budget – and hopefully giving them not just the centre of their room but the heart of their home.
We hope always to be welcoming and sincere in our advice so that the process of choosing a fireplace is a pleasure.

Include picture of the van, rocking horse , dogs and you lot in the window