"The Tortoise Stove"

All Saints, Thurgarton, Norfolk




Churches are usually cold and draughty places many of which have no heating at all. In some the heating systems date back many decades and come in all shapes and sizes. In Thurgarton I would this great old wood burning stove made of cast iron. This has the added advantage that once warm a kettle could be stood on the top to allow water to be heated. Its looks as though it has been a few years since it has been used and  even then I wonder how efficient it would have been given the height of the ceiling and the distance it sits from the congregation.


The Tortoise Stoves date back to 1830 when they were first made by Charles Portway to heat his ironmongery store in Halstead in Essex. The stove was so successful he made one for his neighbour who then encourages him to go into production.   This was so popular that over the next 50 years in excess of  17 000 of his stoves were sold providing economical heating to many thousands of people. Their great advantage was that they burn't their contents at a very slow rate making then cheap to run and hence the name the "Tortoise Stove". 
They were very popular in churches and village halls and their production continues for around 80 years, which makes this stone over 100 years old. 


The badge of the front says C Portway's Patent and the words "Slow But Sure"



Thurgarton church is usually open every day to visitors.