Coalhole cover in action

Many thanks to Hugo Butterworth of Tidy Street, Brighton who has sent me some photos of his coalhole in action. After some initial spillage, the coalman has managed to get the sack into the coalhole for safe and efficient dispatch of smokeless winter fuel. Weren't those Victorians ingenious?

Waterman Street, London SW15

On a recent pilgrimage to the home of football (Craven Cottage), I rounded the corner to my favourite pre-match place of refreshment, The Bricklayer's Arms in Putney. I was stopped in my tracks by a pair of un-named coalhole covers in this grille design. I was intrigued because they would probably let water in.