Hereford & Tewkesbury

CHESTER CATHEDRAL

Many of our fine old Cathedrals, Minsters and Abbeys from the mid-Victorian period onwards were heated by Warm Air Stoves made mostly by two firms,

John Grundy (Grundy) and The London Warming and Heating Company (Gurney).

Sadly, only a few of these Cathedral church buildings or Abbeys have kept their original stoves. Mostly they have been removed and replaced by modern day wet heating systems. However, four Cathedral Churches have kept and still use their (Gurney) warm air stoves are Chester, Ely, Peterborough and Hereford, also included is Tewkesbury Abbey.

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney designed and patented his stove. Goldsworthy Gurney came originally from Bude in Cornwall. His Patent application No. 1468 was dated the 23rd June 1856 and titled "Certain Improvements in Warming and Moistening Air"

His stove was originally designed to stand in a shallow base trough filled with water which when heated was intended to evaporate and moisten the atmosphere inside the heated building. The Gurney stove was designed to burn antracite and thus provide a cheap source of heat.

Charles Sumner and Robert William Kennard both with an address in the City of London filed on 13th February 1861 made an Amended Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration to the Gurney Patent and were given the sole privelige to make, use, exercise and vend Gurney's invention for a period of 14 years. An Indenture was made between Goldsworthy Gurney, the London Warming and Heating Company Limited, Charles Sumner and Robert William Kennard dated 8th July 1858.

Tewkesbury Abbey has two Gurney Stoves which were installed circa. 1875 when the Abbey underwent a
major restoration by the Architect George Gilbert Scott. The stoves were converted to gas firing in 1987.

One of the Gurney gas fired warm air stoves fitted in the side aisle.

A second gurney stove can just be seen in the background close to the archway.

Another example of the Gurney stoves.

This stove is fitted with a fan diluted flue system to facilitate the removal of the flue gases.

Footnote. Salisbury and Worcester Cathedrals although now both heated by a new wet heating system,
have kept for display purposes only, one of their original Gurney warm air stoves.

Anyone visiting the National Tram Museum in Crich Derbyshire has an excellent opportunity to view a Gurney Stove in a wonderfully restored condition.

The Gurney stove is on display as one exhibit in the Museum's Victorian Trade Exhibition.

This Gurney stove was removed from Chichester Cathedral in 1958 and was then in the safe hands of Neville Brown until he gave it to Heritage Group member Paul Yunnie, who in turn donated it to its now permanent home at the National Tram Museum