The Devil's Fireplace

[poliphilo]

This is The Devil's Fireplace.

 
It used to belong to The Abbey Inn, Oldham. According to an online source I can't find any more it dates from 1846 and is believed to be the work of a stonemason called Stott who later worked on the Houses of Parliament. There are a lot of Stotts in Oldham. The Abbey Inn had a reputation as a "rough" house- which may (I'd like to think) translate as "politically radical". The fireplace now belongs to Gallery Oldham- who have kept it in store for the past ten years. It currently serves as the centrepiece for an exhibition entitled Home is Where The Hearth Is.

The two blokes the Devil is holding by the short and curlies are a lawyer and a clergyman. Subversive, eh?

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

How fine!

[clindau.livejournal.com]

I love the faces!

[suzilem.livejournal.com]

that ain't the geographic region I associate with the "short and curlies" :-)

[aellia.livejournal.com]

Spendid!
I cam imagine the flames rising beneathe him!
x

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That has got to be one of the most wonderful things I've ever seen!
And as Penny says, particularly effective when there was a fire under the figures.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

A unique piece of folk art.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The sculptor- whoever he was- knew his job.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You know I've never thought of it that way. I did a google and the site I looked at suggested the short hairs were the ones at the back of the neck. After all, that's where we grab people...:)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't that be grand!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's terrific, isn't it! It really ought to be on permanent display.

[chiller.livejournal.com]

Both men appear to be holding a bottle - I would guess it's an abstinence related work.

[oakmouse]

Second this! *g*

[oakmouse]

Politically radical and possibly also a hangout for prostitutes, thieves, and other officially disreputable types.

That's simply a marvelous piece, and your photos are gorgeous.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!!

Thanks very much for that!!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think you're probably right.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think it's a crying shame it's not on permanent exhibition.

[ennoia-khora.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised it's not!

Pub history

[abbey inn (from livejournal.com)]

We've recently been delving into our history. And it's not far off from that assumption!!
We're getting 1808 and 1813 as dates for its first opening.
And there are many instances of it not being the most behaved of places. In 1854 a policeman entered at 6:30 am and the landlord was slumped over the bar with three other men and the floor was filthy and covered in vomit.
Two years after that the police objected to the place as prostitutes were using it and it was known for robberies.
The fireplace the piece is from is still here...waiting to be reunited :-P