Thread: What's this in Hereford Cathedral?

does the name Gurney mean anything (as in Goldsworthy Gurney perhaps?)

Church heating!

"The London Warming and Heating Company (Gurney).
Sadly, few of these church buildings have kept their original stoves. Mostly they have been removed and replaced by modern day wet heating systems. However, two Cathedral Churches which have kept and still use their (Gurney) warm air stoves are Chester and Hereford, and also included is Tewkesbury Abbey.

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney designed and patented his stove when he was Goldsworthy Gurney originally from Bude in Cornwall. His Patent application No. 1468 was dated the 23rd June 1856 and titled "Certain Improvements in Warming and Moistening Air"
His stove was originally designed to stand in a shallow base trough of water which when heated was intended to evaporate and moisten the atmosphere inside the building being heated. The stove was designed to burn antracite and thus provide a cheap source of heat.

Charles Sumner and Robert William Kennard both with an address in the City of London filed on 13th February 1861 an Amended Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration to the Gurney Patent and were given the sole privelige to make, use, exercise and vend Gurney's invention for a period of 14 years. An Indenture was made between Goldsworthy Gurney, the London Warming and Heating Company Limited, Charles Sumner and Robert William Kennard dated 8th July 1858.
Hereford Cathedral originally had four of the largest size Gurney stoves which were supplied and fitted by Messrs Bennett & Brown a Hereford firm. Their tender sum of £240 was accepted by the Dean and Chapter on 25th June 1867. On 2nd November 1931 a fifth second hand Gurney stove was bought from St Asaph's Cathedral for £25. All five stoves were converted to gas firing in 1989."

From Hereford & Tewkesbury