History & Types

Woodburning stoves date back to 1642 at a foundry in Lynn, Massachusetts where the first wood stove was constructed of cast iron plates – a boxy invention that was to inspire the modern, elegant designs of today.

Benjamin Franklin took on the original idea in 1744 and developed his own cast iron stove improving efficiency and a design that surpassed other inventions. It is a great testament to his endeavour, that his design is still popular today.

For the next two centuries the concept of the wood burning stove with a sealed firebox and controllable air intake did not change, merely a new range of designs such as compact pot-bellies and cylinder patterns emerged.

The turn of the 20th century saw woodburning stoves adapted for use in the kitchen and resulted in a meteoric rise which had hit unprecedented heights by the 1970s due to an oil crisis that meant even more interest in wood stoves and a renewed take on efficiency standards, which, in turn, shaped the design of modern wood burning stoves.

Today’s woodburning stoves feature airtight construction which utilise both steel and aluminium parts as well as cast iron. Firebrick linings for much improved heat retention and catalytic converters designed to burn waste fumes mean modern wood burning stoves are extremely efficient and much better for the environment.

There are generally three types of modern woodburning stoves. Box wood stoves house the fire in a metal box – these have a relatively loose door design meaning they are not quite as airtight as other options; however they are the cheapest wood burning stove available.

Airtight woodburning stoves area step up from box wood burning stoves and feature a completely sealed box and a door that utilises various materials to ensure it is completely airtight. An airtight woodburning stove offers an automatic or manual method to increase or decreases air flow to the stove, which modulates the strength of a fire.

Pellet wood burning stoves utilise electronic regulators and an alternative source of wood to operate. Recycle pump and formed wood in pellet form is used and fuel is regulated by an electronic time and sensor. Pellet woodburning stoves are extremely popular as their heat is similar to traditional wood burning stoves as well as being extremely efficient and friendlier to the environment.