The original British baking oven is back by popular demand

ESSE is proud to introduce the 1000 W Ecodesign wood-burning range cooker. The 1000 W is the cleanest wood burning cooker we’ve ever built incorporating patented catalytic technology, used to clean the emissions and reburn smoke particles, the 1000 W releases just 0.04 CO emissions and as little as 20 mg/m₀³ of combustion dust.

ESSE 1000 W offers the best of both, dependable cooking performance and room-filling radiant heat all rolled into one beautifully hand-crafted range cooker. Welcoming warmth at breakfast and piping hot water – yes, there is even an optional domestic hot water boiler model.

Warmheart and Bakeheart

Warmheart and Bakeheart join our iconic wood-fired Ironheart cook stove. The pair share the Ironheart DNA and meet the stringent Ecodesign requirements.

Like the Ironheart, the new Bakeheart and Warmheart offer much more than a standard log-burner – these practical and versatile cook stoves provide a reliable source of heat, sustenance and comfort wherever it’s required.

New wall-mounted gas fires & clean-burning stove

Spring saw the arrival of a new model and seven contemporary new finishes on ESSE’s flueless wall-mounted gas fires. The Portrait and Landscape models were joined by the wonderfully organic Oval and the traditional black glass finish was supplemented by a range of exciting natural textures including ruby, bronze or grey steel and iron ore.

In autumn, the new low-emission 550SE arrived – just in time for a cosy family Christmas – with a fresh streamlined design and clean-burning credentials. Tall, dark and handsome, the 550SE features cleaner lines, longer legs and an oversize clear glass window offering an enticing view of the natural flames dancing within.

Celebrities and their ESSE

By 2013, at least three ESSEs were in almost constant use at River Cottage; the Ironheart, the CAT Gas and the Fire Stone outdoor oven.

This year, three ESSE stoves were also specified for Prince Charles' Dumfries House and two ESSE range cookers for Kate Humble's Humble by Nature.

ESSE 990

The ESSE 990 was introduced in 2011 and is our cleanest wood-fired cooker to date, further affirming our position as an industry leader.

When assessing the emission levels, the testing house had to check their own equipment was working correctly, as readings were so low.

ESSE the cooker of choice at River Cottage

In 2008 ESSE became the cooker of choice at River Cottage HQ in Devon. Initially we installed an Ironheart as the sole source of heat while the ancient farmhouse was being restored.

Next came an ESSE cooker for the farmhouse kitchen, which can be regularly seen in action on the popular Channel 4 series. Head chef Gill Meller and River Cottage front man Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall also use Woodfired ESSEs for cooking at home.

Above right: Head chef Gill Meller bakes bread in their Ironheart.

Introducing our carbon neutral Woodfired cooker

Launched in 2006, the Woodfired cooker is designed for continuous use and can easily be kept alight for long periods. Inside its unique firebox, combustion is so effective that virtually all of the fuel is 'incinerated' cleanly, producing maximum heat and minimal ash. As a result, it will require only occasional ash removal.

Today, the Woodfired is the cooker of choice for those seeking a carbon neutral alternative fuel, and it is the preferred brand at River Cottage. Gill Meller, head chef at River Cottage, also cooks on a woodfired ESSE at home.

Woodfired models include domestic hot water and central heating options, alongside the original cooking-only model.

The award winning Ironheart

Launched in 2004, the Ironheart cooking stove was inspired by modern European influences for log burning cookers. Yet paradoxically, it revives some of the design principles behind the very first ESSE cooking stove dating back to 1854. This made it the perfect ESSE product to mark our 150th anniversary year.

The Ironheart combines the two things ESSE does best, joining a superb multi-fuel stove with a traditional range cooker.

New products, new trends and new markets

2002 saw the launch of a new range of stoves, including the revolutionary 500 Flueless gas stove. Using patented catalytic technology, unrivalled styling and engineering features, the 500 Flueless continued to position ESSE at the forefront of product development and design.

A new range of 'Fireart' contemporary stoves was introduced, mixing a variety of styles and materials to offer a new product range designed for 21st century modern living. ESSE also expanded their sales operation in British Columbia and Europe.

Award winning ways

Over the years, ESSE has introduced many new products to their range. 1999 saw the new 'Vista' win 'Best Oil/Gas Stove of the Year' at a major heating industry awards ceremony.

In the same year, ESSE also launched a revolutionary, oil-fired central heating cooker that was powerful enough to heat a home with five or six bedrooms.

Warming hearts and homes

By the mid 1900s, ESSE stoves, fires and range cookers were warming all manor of households - from royalty to remote rural homesteads. The ESSE poster, circa 1950, captures the spirit of ESSE products.

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was passionate about ESSE cookers and would use no other brand at her hospital in Balaclava.

Famous British explorers, Shackleton and Scott, also relied on ESSE to provide hot food and warmth to their expedition team in some of the world's coldest and most inhospitable places.

This tradition is followed by top British climber Alan Hinkes, who uses a specially adapted ESSE Solo to heat his base camp in the Himalayas.

In the beginning

So it was that in 1854 James returned to Scotland and made arrangements to set up a business making ESSE stoves. He returned to the States to hand over his old business to his younger brother, Robert A Smith, and his adventures began all over again.

On September 17th 'SS Arctic', the steamer that he was aboard, was involved in a collision with the 'Vesta'. James spent three days and two nights awaiting rescue aboard a makeshift raft before being rescued by the 'Cambria'. James returned to Scotland and the business of manufacturing ESSE cookers and stoves flourished.

James Smith was born

On June 4th 1816 James Smith was born in Edinburgh. He was the second child and eldest son of James and Anna Smith. His father had been a shawl manufacturer in Paisley, but had moved to Edinburgh to set up a shawl merchants business there.

By the time James was sixteen he had ten brothers and a sister, and was looking around for a career. The more he thought about it the more he was swayed by his friend Stephen Wellstood, who had emigrated to New York some years before.

So James set off to make his fortune in a romantic style, on foot. He had heard that a barque was soon to set sail from Greenock to New York. In New York he apprenticed himself to a metal worker, his friend Wellstood helping him by signing his indenture papers as his 'guardian'.