In the late 1800's and early 1900's kitchens were built separate from the main house for safety, as the open fire was used daily for all cooking, washing and heating of water. This very heavy strong fireplace crane could support several items such as cast iron kettles, pans and boilers which were hung on the hinged swing-arm, known as a “crane”. The metal arm was swung out from the fireplace to access the hot water in a kettle relatively safely. A black cast iron fireplace crane with a supporting pole bolted to the wall in the side of the brick open fireplace. It has a swinging handle with a rectangular hand grip at the end to move it over or away from the fire. The metal arm was swung out from the fireplace to access the hot water in a kettle relatively safely. There are holes in the bar for hanging hooks which kitchen cooking pots may be hung. Two small hooks are welded to the bar and there are two small removable hooks and two long ones. architectural elements, fireplaces, fireplace accessories, heating equipment, fireplace crane

These forged cast iron hooks were used in the 1900's to hang cooking items from over an open fire in the kitchen. They hang from a swivel arm fireplace crane attached to the brick wall so the heavy items hanging from the hooks can be moved over or out of the fire. Two antique 'S' shaped removable cast iron hooks used to hang heavy cast iron cooking utensils over an open fire in the home kitchen. One is longer than the other. In this photograph, they hang from a swivel arm fireplace crane attached to the brick wall so the heavy items hanging from the hooks can be moved over or out of the fire. There are two smaller permanent hooks attached to the arm.cast iron, cooking, vintage hooks

Modern iron cooking ‘ranges’ were being introduced from the late 18th century; however, a vast number of people cooked in open fireplaces, well into the 1800s. Generally, they were fitted with iron rods suspended above the fire or ‘cranes’ that could be swung in and out for easier and safer access to the pots that hung from them. These cooking systems may seem rudimentary, but a skilled cook knew how to manage pots, pans, cauldrons and pokers and expose them to the right type of heat by positioning them in various parts of the fireplace. They were also very versatile, enabling multiple cooking techniques – boiling, stewing, frying, roasting, toasting – all at the same time, using different types of vessels and utensils.This type of item was used extensively over the centuries over open fires. It is still used in camping.Metal cooking pot with swinging handle, designed to hang the pot over an open fire. The cast iron pot has two lugs with holes for fitting the handle.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, kitchenware, cooking, open hearth cookery

This very heavy type of iron kettle was hung on a hinged swing-arm, known as a “crane”, in the kitchen fireplace. This type of kettle, with a tap was known as a “fountain”, gave ready access to boiling water. This meant that water could be kept hot all day by the fire, and the water topped up as necessary. The metal arm was swung out from the fire -place to access the hot water relatively safely.This "fountain" was used by one of the pioneer families in the City of Moorabbin.Cast Iron Tea Kitchen, comprising a kettle, with a lid, a hook attached to swivel handle and a brass tap attached to side of kettle. T & C Clark & Co 12 Galls imprinted on lid.T & C Clark & Co