A TRADITIONAL FIREPLACE SPECIALIST WITH REAL HERITAGE
PRESERVING THE OPEN FIRES TRADITION
The inception of Camelot Real Fires, as with many other family businesses, arose from the frustration of not being able to find a fire place specialist to provide exactly what you are looking for. In 1970, Trevor Shaw decided he wanted to buy a real open fire with a canopy for his traditional fireplace. After months of searching (without google!), his efforts turned up nothing that he felt was good enough for his family and his home. Being a skilled engineer himself, he decided to not only build his own, but to fill the gap in the market, and thus Camelot Real Fires was born.
Cutting of an original advert from the Birmingham Post in 1972
A very early (1970) Camelot leaflet hand drawn
by Trevor and Margaret Shaw
NEW DESIGNS KEEP OLD FIRES BURNING
Initially, Trevor offered traditional dog irons, fire grates, and canopies (or hoods). His knowledge and passion for open fireplace and fireplace design grew quickly, fast making him an expert in his field. This expertise enabled him to design the Thermovent wood burning open fire featuring 12 design features including a passive hot air convection system which makes it one of the most economic and effective open fire room heaters. The Thermovent fire was a game-changer, as it dramatically increased the efficiency and the versatility of open fires, allowing them to be installed in places previously unsuitable for an open fire.
More recently his son Paul, who took over the business in 2010, has designed the unique Twin Skin canopy solution which allows Camelot to create canopies (or hoods) that look great in the space of any fireplace opening but still work – even on the smallest permissible chimney size.
“I just wanted to say how pleased we are with the performance of your fire. It certainly does a beautiful job of heating the room, enhances the look of the fire place and has eliminated the problems we faced from smoke Well done to you and the team on a great piece of kit.
With best regards”
Nick A, Vicarage, Oxfordshire. Feb 2015
Trust in our knowledge, experience & service
40 years in the making.
During the last 40 years, we have perfected the art of designing and creating beautiful open fires, canopies, fire grates and fire baskets. We’ve consistently provided our customers with great service and unique wood burning open fires for traditional fireplaces across the UK and abroad. As each piece is handmade, each piece is as individual and unique as our customers are themselves. We help homeowners, pub landlords, contractors, and a varied range of customers all over the UK to realise their dream of a stunning traditional fireplace often improving on existing ‘problem’ open fires by solving smoke and efficiency issues.
A family business
Camelot Real Fires is a true family business, and the Shaw family have a tradition of craftsmanship, creativity and design. Trevor’s wife Margaret designed and crafted house name plaques and post boxes. In 2010, Trevor’s son Paul took the helm, and has been running Camelot Real Fires since.
After over 45 years and 2 generations, we still maintain the values of a personal service, truly understanding our customers and working with them through the design process. We are passionate about open fires. Creating unique and beautiful traditional fireplace pieces that also function efficiently is still our primary driving force.
We are Camelot Real Fires, and we are here for people who, just like us, love open fires.
Call us on 01905 820181
We love to talk open fires.
British craftsmanship & innovation in fireplace design
Looking to the future
We have embraced the latest technologies to improve the efficiency of our fireplace design processes with Thermovent and increase service and performance. We are working with more and more delivery partners to create fireplace design opportunities, all the while maintaining our core values and traditional craftsmanship which sets us apart.
Our new TwinSkin canopy design is the only canopy that separates performance from appearance. We have refined the Twin Skin canopy over many years to ensure that the design creates a beautiful canopy that fits your fireplace perfectly AND works!
In 2019 we embarked on a development product program which we hope will bring new Camelot products to our customers and also further enhance Thermovents environmental credentials in line with new legislation.
Founder Trevor Shaw with son Paul who now runs the business at a test facility for Thermovent performance!