Why Important
There are very few original kitchen ranges from 19th century still is place. Thus their discovery is an important heritage feature.
What to look for
They were always used in the cooking area of the home, usually the kitchen. However, they were difficult and time consuming to clean. They were also very heavy to remove, so sometimes they were left in place, and bricked over leaving the chimney flue to connect to a more modern fireplace.
Check the original layout plans of the heritage building to identify the ‘kitchen’ and investigate the chimney breast. If deeper than usual, it may be the original kitchen range hidden.
When to look
When the initial detailed survey is undertaken. Collect photographs of the existing situation.
How to fix
Clean the cast-iron range thoroughly, and look for casting cracks/failures. It is likely that they cannot be fixed to work again safely, and therefore should be retained a heritage feature of the building.
Avoiding creating problems
As these are rare to find, there is a tendency to remove them and sell them.
However, they were often built into the structure, so removal can cause significant structural damage to the building. Removal is likely to require Listed Building Consent. It may be better to just note that they are there.
Historical background
Kitchen ranges from the 19th Century were mass produced, and formed the first example of a fully contained kitchen.
Builders & Architect Catalogues were often used to select finishes and styles for the original building. The Wirral Archives may be good places to research what was available at the time.