Making a nest is one of the most natural instincts that human beings have. This dates right back to our desire to find a safe and welcome place to sleep and is illustrated by our early use of caves. One thing that is striking about those early dwellings is the desire to decorate and to make them warm. Evidence of smoke and heat staining on cave roofs show that the ancients were not afraid to tame fire. It allowed them a source of light to paint the caves as well.
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As we left the caves, the provision of space for a fire was still very evident. In roundhouses and early mesolithic buildings we can see fire pits in the centre of the room where tales were told, news was shared and food was eaten. An open space was left for the escape of smoke.
With the coming of influences, such as the Romans, the heating of homes became more innovative. The hypocaust under the floor that used warm air is a typical example of this. The open fire was gone and the heat from a furnace served to provide warmth, this time indirectly.
Medieval times saw a return to the open fireplace. This was a controlled fire that served as the kitchen as well. The fireplace remains a part of the home but now we also have the radiator and the storage heater to warm us. The former needs the attention of a Cheltenham Boiler Service like www.combi-man.com.