Fireplaces have been an integral part of homes in Scotland for many centuries. Developments in both taste and technology have seen a wide range of different fireplace designs and features emerge. Increasingly in the 18th and 19th centuries they became highly decorative and the focal point within a room. In recent years with the spread of central heating many have lost their original purpose and have thus fallen into disrepair or been removed altogether. This INFORM aims to show the value of a properly maintained fireplace and its contribution to the historic fabric and character of a building. It also provides a guide to the variety of elements which combine to make up a fireplace and give brief notes on the proper care and maintenance of these elements.