A large pair of Victorian brass mounted cast iron andirons, possibly designed by J. H. Pollen and by Joshua Hart & Son, circa 1860

The attribution to Pollen and Hart is based on a similarly impressive pair of firedogs at Blickling Hall, Norfolk. Executed by Joshua Hart and Sons between 1858 and 1863, they formed part of the redesign of the Long Gallery by William Schomberg Robert, 8^th Marquess of Lothian (1832-1870).

The refurbishment of Newbattle in the 1850s and 1870s mirrored similar projects being undertaken at Blickling at the same time. The 8th Marquess through his connection with Pollen - and his friendship with William Morris - was closely aligned with leading lights of both the pre-Raphaelite movement and later the burgeoning Arts and Crafts movement. J H Pollen at Blickling and W Eden Nesfield at Newbattle successfully married existing historic aspects of each house with new bold and sympathetic design schemes. This can be seen most clearly at Blickling Hall - where the extraordinary Jacobean plastered ceiling of the Long Gallery has been counterpoised by a rich array of carved bookcases and an enormous hooded chimney piece (removed by the 11th Marquess in the 1930s).

The present firedogs appear in several contemporary photographs of the chimneypiece in the Crypt at Newbattle Abbey.