Cold air tumbling down the chimney through the flue is causing the room to be colder than I'd like it. Apart from lighting the fire, cutting things up with an angle grinder to plug the gap, or stuffing a chimney balloon up it (I really do like the fire you know)
1890 cottage, standard chimneys up through upper floor to roof . Only 1 with a "Real" fire all others blanked properly. Older type "Back boiler" multi-fuel fire with a plate inside at the top acting as a damper only (Fire was donated by a friend who didn't need it and it is only used as a secondary room heat source to the gas CH in cold weather and when "The Management" want to feel cosy ;-) . (and for roasting chestnuts or doing toast)What can I do to reduce the downdraught?