Older homes had chimneys to vent furnaces. Based on what you've said about floors and woodwork, I'd say there is no fireplace behind the wall.

I agree with what is said above. It is most likely a chimney for either an existing furnace, or a furnace that was there one time. I would also say no fireplace behind the wall, and chimney was never meant to be visable except either in a basement, a crawl space, or the top of the house.

My parents house had a hole about 5 feet up on a wall near the center of the basement, and it connected to a chimney behind the wall. Before they installed a furnace for central heat there was apparently an oil or propane heater that sat on the floor and had a flue connected to the hole in the wall. The hole was a little smaller diameter than a dinner plate.

Bruce