It is an old grill/oven. I would tear it out.

yeah, you put charcoal or wood in the bottom hole, and then put a grate/grille across where the wood is and then you can cook. could restore it or tear it out, as you prefer, or see if it can be retrofitted for gas.

It's a fireplace. You could use it for grilling or marshmellows or just watching the fire on a fall night. Looks like it could use some love.

only if you don't like it, and/or would rather have the space for more lawn, flower beds, or other uses.

Keep the antique look, just mortar any loose bits, but turn it into something unexpected, like a water feature. You could have a spigot coming off the flue, into a bowl of water below and a pump to recirculate. If you have room, make a circular planting bed around it and plant with woodland shrubs and perennials (looks like you have a shady garden) and possibly Japanese maples, depending on your zone.

It's a relic from another time. Before the Weber, this is one of the way people grilled food.

They are still built here as part of outdoor rooms. I don't think they're a relic of another time at all.

And yours is built with real stone and not stonefaced/fake stone. Someone built that by hand. You don't have to appreciate it for what it is of course, you could tear it out.

I don't see a flue that you could magically transform into a fountain. And it looks like it needs a little more than repointing (putting mortar in the "weak bits")

I think GL's comment was valid.

No it wasn't, Beverly. It was insulting and unhelpful.

HI -- I think this old DIY outdoor grill / BarBQ from another time has done it's time and should go . It doesn't look safe to use now . It has been left too long . I did not see any statement as being rude or insulting and unhelpful . It was how it was read and not how it was said . It was just an observation of someone maybe not being old enough to have ever seen anything like this . Just like most kids today not knowing who or what the Beatles where . Not worth fighting over !!!

Back in the olden days (late 50's & early 60's) people built these in their back yards and used them to grill out or just gather around and toast marshmallows. Often installed as part of a patio.

Before tearing it out you might just give it a try. You could use charcoal or wood. Pull up your lounge chairs and enjoy....I miss them.

Might be an old trash incinerator.

Sorry , no it's not --- I remember the garbage incinerators and that's not it .

[sarcasm] -- it's a useless old thing -- ok so let's never renovate a bad old house/ never watch Rehab Addict --- etc.... deal?!!!

If it's a vote, I vote 'yes' IF it's in budget for you and your family... it'll cost to tear it down and haul it away too.... ;-)

No mystery. It is an outside grille, a (bad) DIY design. Wood went in the bottom and, what is missing, is the actual grille. You probably could get it up and running, but it would be so inefficient and inconvenient.

I would keep it. You can make it into a fire pit of sorts.

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This looks to be in a sad state of affairs. The massive crack up the back (in the mortar) tells me this will need some $$$ and the use of a stone mason (not the cheapest of tradespeople to hire) to fix this up. There are also some crumbling issues on the left "arm" of the unit. That will have to be taken down completely and then built up again. Stones are reuseable. The brick work probably needs fresh bricks. It is possible. A couple days of work for a mason. The cost will be the deciding factor. It would be a number that has 3 zeros behind it....not two.

We had a brick grill similar, we knocked down the top part and made a raised garden bed.

They call that 'getting an estimate' - I wish you a good back yard... good 'luck' with it whatever you do!

Hi, Rebecca! Just wrap it with our Flexible Stone! Done! Fast, easy and DIY