What/ why is this beam in fireplace opening?

[Cottage1993]

Good Morning all, 

 

Hoping you can assist again with identifying a beam that is currently sitting within the opening of the fireplace.

 

At first I thought it was a lintel but this beam is running the depth of the fireplace and not width

 

It is about mantle height but unable to gain a clear sight as it is behind a steel/cast flue pipe which attaches to the stove pipe.

 

The current installation is  a shoddy job (as you guys pointed out) and we are planning to rip all out and install a new woodstove.

 

As part of this we will be fitting a chimney liner so it will fall quite close to said beam.

Edited October 15, 2021 by Cottage1993

[htb]

beam for hanging food to be smoked?, but from your description sounds too low and hot for that.

[Will C]

For fitting the breast plate to? (Only guessing, not even an educated one!)

[Alycidon]

Probably older than you think and for smoking meat to preserve it.

 

A

[Scotty38]

We have four rods (rather than beams) in our chimney that I assumed were to strengthen the opening as it were. Yours may be different if course. You should be able to make the ends out either side of the arch and then a third and two thirds across the top. 

 

 

[eggsarascal]

41 minutes ago, Scotty38 said:

We have four rods (rather than beams) in our chimney that I assumed were to strengthen the opening as it were. Yours may be different if course. You should be able to make the ends out either side of the arch and then a third and two thirds across the top. 

 

 

Am I the only one who has no idea what this means?

[Scotty38]

Oh thought it was easy. The op has a beam in his chimney, I have four rods in mine for strengthening so is his for the same purpose. Just giving a possible answer to the question, sorry.