Slate fireplace surrounds have been around since Victorian times. Slate is used in the manufacture of fireplaces for several reasons, not least because the material is a good insulator and withstands extreme temperatures very well. Slate, like marble and stone, is also a very attractive natural material that comes in an attractive array of colours – these include many shades of grey, green and even purple. Much of the slate used to make fire surrounds, both today and in the past, is sourced from the mines of North Wales.
Like other natural fireplace materials, slate has a timeless appeal, meaning the slate fireplace complements traditional and modern homes alike. Slate also lends itself well to other fireplace materials such as wood, marble, and cast iron, making it a particularly versatile material.
There are many fireplace specialists and reclamation yards selling period slate fireplace surrounds, both in towns and cities and online. Britain’s Heritage are specialists in antique slate and stone fireplaces from the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, and they have an excellent display of slate fireplace surrounds on their website at excellent prices.
If period fireplace surrounds prove a little too expensive, why not buy a modern slate surround for your fireplace? As mentioned, slate goes very well with other materials, and many families combine a slate hearth with a stone or marble surround and back panel; sometimes, the fireplace back panel is slate also, and just the surround is in an alternative material. Modern Fireplaces Direct sells a range of slate fireplace components, including hearths, back panels, slips, and complete fireplace packages.
Slate fireplace surrounds really do have a lot to offer, in both the traditional and modern home – slate adds a unique touch of luxury and charm all of its own.
