Thornhill Galleries

Quality, Choice, Reputation & Service

Our Stock

With over 125 years in the business, Thornhill Galleries holds one of the largest collections of fireplaces and fireplace accessories in England. Through our extensive network of suppliers across the UK and Europe, we regularly source some of the best fireplaces and our stock of several hundred pieces includes:

• A large selection of approximately 250 superb quality marble, wood and stone period fireplaces, together with a smaller selection of high quality reproduction pieces.
• An extensive collection of fireplace accessories, including firegrates and baskets, firedogs and andirons, register grates, fire tools, firescreens, fenders, and cast iron firebacks to compliment any fireplace.
• We also make bespoke fireplaces to suit the exact requirements of the individual, using the finest craftsmen and materials to produce results of the highest quality.

Making Your Selection

We appreciate that the selection of a fireplace is an important decision and often determines many other factors in the interior design process. Here at Thornhill Galleries we pride ourselves in offering our clients a personal, tailored service from beginning to end.

The majority of our stock is viewable on our website, so this is normally a good place to start. Alternatively please give us a call or pay us a visit to discuss your requirements and take a look at our fireplace and accessories in our showroom. We can offer expert advice on the whole selection process - taking in account style, proportions, and other practical and logistical considerations.

For added peace of mind, a member of our team would be happy to visit your home (subject to reasonable geographical restrictions!) and take the necessary measurements, ensuring the fireplace you are interested in works both practically and aesthetically. Furthermore, we would be happy to suggest the appropriate metalwork from our fine selection of firegrates, firedogs, fenders and firetools, to compliment the style and elegance of your chosen fireplace.

Restoration & Installation

Quality, Choice, Reputation & Service

Thornhill Galleries regularly works with interior designers, architects and private clients in the UK and throughout the world, supplying some of the most prestigious fireplaces to the most discerning clients. Over the years, Thornhill Galleries has earned a valued reputation for quality and customer service which we hope you will take advantage of should you want to add a fireplace to your home.

The History of Thornhill Galleries

Specialising in antique and prestigious fireplaces, Thornhill Galleries holds one of the largest collections of superb quality marble, wood and stone period fireplaces in England. Through our extensive network of suppliers in England, France and Italy, we regularly source some of the best fireplace mantels and our collection of several hundred pieces includes a rare example of an original Coadestone fireplace, a very important French Empire Siena marble fireplace, and early George II Statuary marble fireplace in the manner of William Kent. We have also made bespoke fireplaces to suit the exact requirements of the individual, fusing our considerable knowledge and experience of the several thousand mantelpieces that we have held over the years, with the ability of the finest craftsmen and materials, to produce results of the highest quality. We also stock an extensive selection of fireplace accessories, including firegrates and baskets, firedogs and andirons, register grates, fire tools, firescreens, fenders, and cast iron firebacks to compliment any fireplace. We regularly work with interior designers, architects and private clients in the UK and throughout the world, supplying some of the most prestigious fireplaces to the most discerning clients.

The family business was founded in 1880 by Samuel Dockerill and retained the name of A & R Dockerill Ltd until 1958 when Samuel's maternal grandson, Richard Wakefield took over the company, and the present title of Thornhill Galleries was adopted. Thornhill was an obvious choice for the name as it was the name of the house that the family have lived and worked in for over 100 years. The house was initially built as the Old Manor House in East Hill, Wandsworth in 1670 as part of a larger royal residence and given by Charles II to his niece, the future Queen Anne, when she was aged five, and it was here that Anne spent her quiet childhood. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the house had a carved staircase by master woodcarver Grinling Gibbons, murals painted by Sir James Thornhill, a fashionable artist after whom the house and company now take its name.

It was when Samuel Dockerill, who had been advised by his doctor to move out of smoky Kensington for the sake of his asthmatic children, and decided that the fields on the river in Putney were ideal for a new family home, discovered the Old Manor House was being pulled down to make way for new development, that it found its new location. Dockerill recognised the quality of the old house's panelling, doors and interiors, and he bought the lot at auction on February 12, 1891, at a far cheaper price than he could have bought new materials. He then moved the house virtually brick by brick from its original site to Deodar Road in Putney.

Dockerill transported most of the house by barge to its new location, where he built himself a truncated version of the original manor and also chose this new location to base the architectural antique business. He named it Thornhill House in honour of the artist, whose panels still adorn the inside to this day. Sir James Thornhill was an English painter of historical subjects, in the Italian baroque tradition. As well as decorating the interior of the dome at St Paul's Cathedral and the royal apartments at Hampton Court, he also painted the great hall at Blenheim Palace in 1716 depicting the Duke of Marlborough's victory at the Battle of Blenheim during the War of the Spanish Succession. In June 1718 George I made him court painter, and in March 1720 Serjeant Painter. In the same year, he was master of the Painters' Company and in 1723 fellow of the Royal Society. From 1722 to 1734 he was also member of Parliament. On 2 May 1720, the king knighted him.

The company has been passed down through the family, and is now owned and run by Samuel Dockerill's great grandson Graham Wakefield; together with his sons Anthony and Richard, the fifth generation of the same family to work in the business. It continues to offer a close, personal attention to their clients' requirements, and keeps a balance between its traditional heritage and the professionalism and innovation expected from a modern business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you install the fireplaces?

We are proud to offer a complete installation service including the supplying of hearths, slips, iron interiors and briquettes. For our firegrates and baskets we can arrange for the supply and connection of gas or ethanol burners. If you are outside the UK and would like further details about installation, please contact us to discuss possibility and pricing.

Do you ship?

We can arrange delivery of our fireplaces anywhere across the United Kingdom within a few days. We regularly ship our fireplaces and accessories all over the world both by air and sea. Air is usually slightly more expensive but considerably quicker. As a general guide, deliveries to mainland Europe usually takes about 1 week whereas shipping time to countries outside Europe is 7-10 days by air and 4-8 weeks by sea.

The shipping firm we use will expertly pack and crate the piece(s) and deliver to your door with insurance. If you would like us to get you a quote for this please contact us either by phone or email with destination details and your preference for air or sea shipping.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept personal or company cheques, or bank transfers. Unfortunately we do not accept credit cards.

Can I reserve an item of stock?

We are happy to hold any item for a few days for you, please contact us either by phone or email to discuss this.

Is VAT applicable on all your items?

VAT is chargeable at 17.5% on all items if for sale within the European Union. If it is for export outside the EU then it is usually zero-rated. It can also sometimes be reclaimed or zero-rated in special instances such as listed buildings and new builds. Certification of such will be required.

Do you offer condition reports?

We appreciate that buying a fireplace or accessory from a photo on the website requires complete faith in the company from which you are buying these from. Therefore we post as many detailed images online as possible, but if you require a condition report please do not hesitate to ask and we will be happy to supply one.

All our fireplaces and accessories are given thorough restoration prior to leaving our premises.

I am planning to visit your showroom, what measurements do I need to bring with me?

Fireplace: Please bring the chimney breast size (or wall size if it is to go on a flat wall), opening height, width and depth. Ceiling height and general room sizes can help when deciding on proportions, but these are not crucial.

Firegrates, register grates and firedogs: Please bring the width at the front and the back of the opening, the height and the depth. If the fireplace legs are wider than the opening, please bring the size between these also. A photo of the fireplace always tends to help greatly.

Fenders: Please bring the exact width between the two jambs and the width and depth of the hearth.

Moscow Office

Thornhill Galleries has recently established a close affiliation with Kimberley Expertise, who have offices in Moscow and can help with any initial enquiries from Russia.

Kimberley Expertise was set up in London in 1996 by James and Natasha Kimberley. Their aim was to bring the best of British and European design to the Russian market. With their extensive list of modern and traditional design companies, Kimberley Expertise offers everything necessary to create a beautiful, stylish and welcoming home.

Today in Russia, Kimberley Expertise works with all top design accounts, both in residential and commercial markets, both of which are growing at unprecedented rates.

Kimberley Expertise Ltd
Malaya Bronnaya, dom 10, stroenie 2, 25
Moscow
Russia 123104
Tel: +7 495 690 55 98
Tel: +7 916 593 77 86

E-mail: op@kimberleyexpertise.com

Please visit their website at: www.kimberleyexpertise.com