Sewing Bee's Patrick Grant brings back 500 heating device

A vintage ESSE heating stove has been restored to full working order by designer and BBC Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant <i>(Image: Supplied)</i>
A vintage ESSE heating stove has been restored to full working order by designer and BBC Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant (Image: Supplied)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

A piece of 1950s British craftsmanship has been given a new lease of life.

A vintage ESSE heating stove has been restored to full working order by designer and BBC Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant, who discovered the ESSE 450 model while renovating his 17th-century home.

Patrick said: "I hate throwing anything away.

"This house dates back to 1690; it has a long history.

"It's been lived in by lots of people, and I wanted everything that I did inside the house to reflect that idea of longevity, history and quality."

Instead of replacing the stove, Patrick decided to restore it as part of his commitment to preserving the home’s heritage.

He said: "You know, when you repair something, it's an act of kindness towards the planet and an act of kindness towards the object itself.

"It's an acknowledgement of the value of the craftsmanship that has gone into making something."

The ESSE 450, produced in the 1950s, is known for its curved design and vibrant enamel finish.

He said: "We were able to preserve the beautiful 1950s enamelled shell and put a modern, clean burning fire box inside it, and it looks exactly like the original, but it now is a wonderful modern, piece of equipment."

The restoration was carried out in partnership with Barnoldswick-based manufacturer ESSE.

Peter Ashby, director of ESSE, said: "It was a pleasure to work with Patrick on this project and help give one of our heritage models a new lease of life.

"ESSEs are built for durability, efficiency and longevity and, by simply switching out the firebox for one that more readily meets modern requirements, we’ve ensured this striking stove can live on for many more years to come."

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos