chimney corner

• chimney-corner (archaic)

chimney corner (plural chimney corners)

1. The side of an open fireplace or hearth in a home, traditionally thought of as a place for the old or unwell; an inglenook.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of the affection of fathers to their children”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 224:

     It is meere injuſtice to ſee an old, crazed, ſinnowe-ſhronken, and nigh-dead father ſitting alone in a chimnie-corner, to enjoy ſo many goods as would ſuffice for the preferment and entertainment of many children, and in the meane while, for want of meanes, to ſuffer them to looſe their beſt daies and yeares, without thruſting them into publike ſervice and knowledge of men; […].

   • 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 96:

     “I see a vacant scat,” replied the Ghost, “in the poor chimney corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. […]”

   • 1891, Thomas Hardy, chapter XVIII, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume I, London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., […], →OCLC, phase the third (The Rally), page 237:

     […] it was Angel Clare's custom to sit in the yawning chimney-corner during the meal, his cup-and-saucer and plate being placed on a hinged flap at his elbow.