Dunsley Yorkshire Stove: UK Buyer’s Guide, Prices and Running Costs for 2026

If you want a solid-fuel stove you can still buy spares for in ten years’ time, the paperwork matters as much as the firebox. The Dunsley Yorkshire Stove is a British multifuel design whose appeal rests on three practical things: it burns smokeless fuel as well as logs, it comes in a room-heating version and a central-heating (CH) boiler version, and it sits in a manufacturer catalogue that is still actively documented. This guide sets out what the two Yorkshire models are, what they typically cost in 2026, what they cost to run per hour, and how they stack up against the Clearview, Charnwood and Stovax stoves most buyers cross-shop them with.

It’s a research-led guide, not a hands-on test. Everything below comes from manufacturer documentation, named UK retailers, published regulatory lists and aggregate owner feedback across UK stove forums and retailer review pages.

Quick picks

All prices are hedged approximations for 2026, stove-only, and exclude flue, hearth and installation. Always re-check live listings before ordering — solid-fuel pricing moves with steel costs and stock.

How to choose a Dunsley Yorkshire Stove

Multifuel versus wood-only

Dunsley built its reputation on multifuel stoves, and that is the core of the Yorkshire’s appeal. A multifuel design typically pairs a riddling grate with primary air fed from beneath the fuel bed — the grate lets ash drop away and the under-fire air keeps solid fuel alight. That means you can burn smokeless fuel, anthracite or manufactured ovals as well as logs. A wood-only stove usually runs a flat base with air introduced from above and around the fire; it burns timber beautifully but gives you no sensible way to burn solid fuel, because the fuel bed has nowhere to drop its ash and no under-fire air supply.

In practice, the Yorkshire suits households that want a bunker of smokeless fuel for overnight burns and long, slow heat, then switch to logs at weekends. Aggregate owner feedback on UK forums repeatedly flags this flexibility as the reason people choose a Dunsley over a wood-only box: you are not tied to one fuel supply or one fuel price.

Room-only or CH boiler version

Dunsley publishes a separate installation and operating manual for the Yorkshire Stove CH, which tells you the CH is a distinct model rather than a trim level. In Dunsley’s naming, CH denotes a central-heating or boiler variant. The CH adds a boiler that can feed radiators, a hot water cylinder, or both, and the specification you need to check splits room heat in kW from water heat in kW — a CH stove gives part of its output to the room and the remainder to the water circuit, so a “12 kW” boiler stove is not 12 kW of room heat.

Two further CH-specific checks: the minimum system volume, and whether a thermal store or buffer vessel is required under Building Regulations Part G. Get these wrong and the installation is both inefficient and non-compliant.

Smoke control areas and DEFRA exemption

This is the single most decision-critical check on the page. Before buying any stove for a smoke control area, look up the exact model reference — “Yorkshire Stove” and “Yorkshire Stove CH” — on the government’s DEFRA exempt appliances list at gov.uk/guidance/exemptions-for-burning-wood-coal-and-manufactured-solid-fuels, and cross-check the HETAS appliance database at hetas.co.uk. In a smoke control area only exempt appliances and authorised fuels may be used, so an appliance that is not listed for your exact model reference is not the appliance you can legally install there. Confirm the listing yourself rather than relying on a retailer’s summary, because exemption attaches to specific model references, not to a brand.

Output, sizing and the emissions datasheet

Sizing is about matching nominal heat output to the room, not buying the biggest box that fits. An oversized stove has to be run slumbering to avoid overheating the room, and a slumbering stove burns dirty and glasses up. Dunsley’s installation manuals list the figures you need to work from: nominal heat output, efficiency percentage, flue outlet diameter, maximum log length, weight and external dimensions (H × W × D in millimetres).

On the flue, the outlet is typically either 125 mm or 150 mm depending on model, so verify the size against the manual for your exact variant before ordering flue components — a mismatched flue adaptor is a needless delay mid-install. For Ecodesign 2022 compliance, source the particulate (g/kWh), NOx and CO figures from the manufacturer’s technical datasheet for each model rather than from marketing copy; those three numbers are what the regulation turns on.

One term worth knowing: Enviroburn is Dunsley’s label for a tertiary or pre-heated secondary air stage that reduces particulate emissions. It appears in model names such as the Highlander 3 Enviroburn, and it is a combustion-air feature, not a fuel or a control system.

Door material and construction

Both Yorkshire models are confirmed as steel body construction. Whether the door is cast iron or steel should be verified on the current spec sheet, because it changes behaviour: cast iron tends to heat up and cool more slowly, while a steel door tends to come up to temperature faster. Either way, the door rope seal is the part that decides whether the stove runs controllably, and it is a wear item.

The Dunsley range, documentation and company status

Dunsley Heat Ltd is registered at an address in Upton, West Yorkshire, under Companies House number 02301327. Two things need verifying before you buy, and they are worth verifying directly: current active trading status and any ownership changes at Companies House, and whether manufacturing is still carried out on-site, which is best confirmed via the company’s live website or dated trade press rather than assumed. The reason is blunt — if trading status has changed, the spares and warranty argument that underpins a Dunsley purchase collapses entirely.

The company’s downloadable document library is the clearest guide to what it currently supports. It lists installation and operating instructions for the Yorkshire Stove and the Yorkshire Stove CH, alongside a wide Highlander range: the Highlander 3 Enviroburn, Highlander 5, Highlander 7, Highlander 8, Highlander 8 Double Fronted, Highlander 10, Highlander 16 CH and the Highlander Solo. The catalogue also covers the Avance 400 and Avance 500, a log store, an external air kit, the Neutralizer and Oxypic lines and a range of ash containers, and Dunsley’s literature also references a Link-Up System.

Two things follow from that list. First, the Yorkshire Stove still has its own current documentation, which matters enormously when you need a baffle plate or a firebrick a decade from now. Second, the existence of a separate CH manual confirms the boiler version is engineered and documented as its own appliance.

Dunsley Yorkshire Stove review

Best for: households that want one appliance to burn both logs and smokeless fuel, in a single room.

What you’re getting. A multifuel stove with a steel body and a riddling grate arrangement, documented in its own installation and operating manual. The manual is where the hard numbers live: nominal heat output, efficiency, flue outlet diameter (typically 125 mm or 150 mm — check your variant), maximum log length, weight and dimensions.

Standout strength. Fuel flexibility without compromise. Because it is a multifuel design, you can run smokeless fuel or manufactured ovals for long overnight burns and switch to kiln-dried logs when you want a livelier fire — and you are not locked into a single fuel supplier’s pricing. Add the fact that the model is still supported by current manufacturer documentation and the ownership case is stronger than for a discontinued box.

Honest caveat. The Yorkshire is not, from the published data, a budget appliance, and the real cost is not the stove. Flue liner, hearth, HETAS registration and system design are separate line items that can dwarf the appliance price — see the CH section below for the figures. Also confirm the DEFRA exemption listing for your exact model reference as covered above; do not assume it from the brand name.

Verdict. The sensible choice if you want multifuel capability, current manufacturer support and a room heater you can service rather than replace.

Where to buy. UK retailers including Direct Stoves and Stove World UK, plus local Dunsley stockists — typically around £900–£1,200 stove-only. Re-check live listings, as stock and pricing vary.

Dunsley Yorkshire Stove CH review

Best for: running radiators, a hot water cylinder, or both, from the same appliance that heats the room.

What you’re getting. A boiler stove with dedicated installation and operating instructions. Its specification splits room heat in kW from water heat in kW, so the useful number for sizing radiators is the water side, not the headline output. You also need the minimum system volume figure and a decision on whether a thermal store or buffer vessel is required under Building Regulations Part G.

Standout strength. Whole-house capability from one fire. A CH stove can carry part of a home’s heating and hot water load, which is a genuinely different proposition from a room heater — and the separate documentation means the system design has been considered by the manufacturer rather than improvised.

Honest caveat. Budget for the installation, not just the appliance. The CH version is typically around £1,400–£1,800 stove-only, but total installed cost with flue liner, hearth, HETAS registration and system design typically adds £2,000–£4,000 or more. CH installs also require Building Regulations notification under Part J and Part G, and a HETAS-registered installer — this is not a DIY paperwork job.

Verdict. A serious whole-house option with proper manufacturer documentation, provided you accept that the appliance is roughly a third of the project cost.

Where to buy. As with the room-heating model, typically through Direct Stoves, Stove World UK and local Dunsley stockists; boiler stoves are less commonly held in stock, so expect to order.

How it compares: three cross-shop alternatives

These are the realistic competitors for a British multifuel or wood stove buyer in 2026. Verify current prices and exemption status for each before committing.

Clearview Vision 500

Best for: buyers who want a 5 kW wood-focused stove from a marque with a strong reputation among installers.

Key specs and price. Rated at 5 kW and typically listed as DEFRA exempt; guide price typically around £1,400.

Standout strength. The 5 kW nominal output sits in the sweet spot for a typical UK living room, which is why it is so often specified.

Honest caveat. It is a wood-focused design rather than a multifuel one, so if you want to burn smokeless fuel overnight the Yorkshire’s riddling grate arrangement is the more natural fit. Confirm the exemption listing for the exact model on the gov.uk list.

Verdict. A strong room heater if your fuel plan is logs; less flexible if it isn’t.

Charnwood C-Five

Best for: buyers who want a 5 kW DEFRA-exempt stove with a styling-first reputation.

Key specs and price. Rated at 5 kW and typically listed as DEFRA exempt; guide price typically around £1,350.

Standout strength. Matches the Clearview on nominal output at a slightly lower guide price — roughly a £50 difference against the Vision 500’s guide figure — which matters if the two are otherwise tied on looks.

Honest caveat. As above, check the exemption listing against the exact model reference rather than assuming, and factor in that any saving on the appliance is small next to the flue and installation costs.

Verdict. The closest like-for-like alternative to the Clearview, and a reasonable benchmark against which to price a Yorkshire Stove.

Stovax Riva2 40

Best for: a built-in, inset look where a freestanding stove would dominate the room.

Key specs and price. Rated at 4 kW and typically listed as DEFRA exempt; guide price typically around £1,100.

Standout strength. The lowest guide price of the three comparison stoves and the lowest nominal output at 4 kW, which suits a smaller or better-insulated room.

Honest caveat. At 4 kW it delivers roughly a kilowatt less nominal heat than the 5 kW Clearview and Charnwood options — a meaningful gap in a cold, draughty room. Inset installations also impose their own hearth and opening requirements, so confirm the fit before buying.

Verdict. The pick here if you want an inset and a smaller output; not a like-for-like swap for a freestanding multifuel stove.

Running costs: a worked example

Fuel prices for early 2026, from Biomass Suppliers List pricing for kiln-dried hardwood and typical smokeless fuel pricing:

• Kiln-dried hardwood: approximately £0.07–£0.09 per kWh
• Smokeless fuel (Homefire Ovals): approximately £0.09–£0.11 per kWh
• Mains gas benchmark: approximately £0.06 per kWh (OFGEM Q1 2026)
• Air-source heat pump, effective: approximately £0.04–£0.05 per kWh

The formula is simple: output kW × hours × £/kWh = cost. Take an illustrative 5 kW burn for five hours — a common UK room-heater size — so 25 kWh of heat:

• Kiln-dried hardwood: roughly £1.75–£2.25 for the session, or around £0.35–£0.45 per hour
• Smokeless fuel: roughly £2.25–£2.75, or around £0.45–£0.55 per hour
• The same heat from mains gas: roughly £1.50, or around £0.30 per hour
• The same heat from an air-source heat pump: roughly £1.00–£1.25, or around £0.20–£0.25 per hour

Two conclusions follow. Burning wood or smokeless fuel currently costs more per kWh than mains gas, so a stove is best justified as a room-specific comfort and resilience purchase rather than a bill-cutting measure. And smokeless fuel costs roughly two pence per kWh more than kiln-dried hardwood, so the convenience of an overnight burn carries a real premium.

Spares and long-term ownership

The longevity claim only holds if parts are actually available, so check live stock before you rely on it. Named routes to verify are Stove Spare Parts (stovespareparts.co.uk) and Dunsley direct. The parts to check specifically are:

• Glass — the door pane, which cracks or clouds over years of use
• Baffle plate — the plate above the fire that shapes the flue path; warps with heat cycling
• Door rope — the gasket that seals the door; the single biggest influence on whether the stove controls properly
• Riddling grate — the moving grate that lets ash drop; specific to multifuel designs
• Firebricks — the internal linings that protect the steel body from direct flame

If any of those five are unavailable, the stove becomes a disposable appliance. That is also why Dunsley Heat Ltd’s trading status is worth checking at Companies House before you buy.

UK installation and regulations

Installation is regulated work, not a weekend job. The checks that apply:

• Building Regulations notification is required for the installation of a solid-fuel appliance, and the work should be signed off through a HETAS-registered installer or via building control.
• Part J covers combustion appliances and fuel storage — the hearth, ventilation and flue provisions sit here.
• Part G applies to the CH version where it supplies hot water, covering minimum system volume and whether a thermal store or buffer vessel is needed.
• HETAS registration is the practical route to compliant sign-off; a HETAS-registered installer handles the notification for you.
• Smoke control areas require an exempt appliance and authorised fuel — check the DEFRA list for your exact model reference.

Budget the installation properly. On the CH model especially, flue liner, hearth, HETAS registration and system design typically add £2,000–£4,000 or more on top of the appliance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dunsley Yorkshire Stove legal to use in a smoke control area? Only if the exact model reference appears on the DEFRA exempt appliances list at gov.uk, cross-checked against the HETAS appliance database at hetas.co.uk. Exemption attaches to specific model references, so “Yorkshire Stove” and “Yorkshire Stove CH” must each be checked individually. If you are in a smoke control area and the listing isn’t there, you cannot legally use it with wood or ordinary coal, and you would need to rely on authorised fuels instead.

Can I install a Yorkshire Stove myself, or do I need a HETAS installer? The work requires Building Regulations notification, and the flue, hearth and ventilation provisions fall under Part J. A HETAS-registered installer can self-certify and notify on your behalf, which is the usual route. The CH version adds Part G considerations around system volume and hot water safety, which is squarely within a heating engineer’s remit rather than a general DIY job.

What size Yorkshire Stove do I need for my room? Work from the nominal heat output in the installation manual and match it to the room rather than buying the largest box that fits. An oversized stove has to be run slumbering to stop it overheating the room, and slumbering burns produce more smoke and dirtier glass. If you are near the boundary between two sizes, the smaller appliance run properly is usually the better outcome.

How much does it cost to run per hour on wood versus smokeless fuel? At the early-2026 figures used above, kiln-dried hardwood works out at approximately £0.07–£0.09 per kWh and smokeless fuel such as Homefire Ovals at approximately £0.09–£0.11 per kWh. On a 5 kW burn that is roughly £0.35–£0.45 per hour on wood and £0.45–£0.55 per hour on smokeless fuel. Both currently cost more per kWh than mains gas at approximately £0.06 per kWh.

Can I still get spares for a Yorkshire Stove? Check live stock with Stove Spare Parts (stovespareparts.co.uk) or Dunsley direct before you buy. The parts that matter are the glass, baffle plate, door rope, riddling grate and firebricks — the consumables that determine whether a stove is serviceable or scrap. Availability of all five is what turns “British-built” from a marketing line into a genuine longevity advantage.

What fuels can I burn in a multifuel Dunsley? In a multifuel model, smokeless fuel, anthracite and manufactured ovals can be burned alongside logs, because the riddling grate and under-fire primary air support solid fuel. A wood-only stove cannot do this sensibly. Whatever you burn, the smoke control area rules still apply to the fuel as well as the appliance, so authorised fuels are the relevant category where a smoke control area is in force.

Can the Yorkshire Stove CH run radiators and hot water at the same time? The CH version’s boiler can feed radiators, a hot water cylinder, or both, but the split matters: the specification separates room heat in kW from water heat in kW, so only the water figure is available to the heating circuit. You also need the minimum system volume and a decision on a thermal store or buffer vessel under Part G, which is why the CH has its own installation manual.

What happens to warranty and spares if Dunsley’s ownership changes? A change of trading status or ownership is the single biggest risk to a stove purchase, because it undermines both the warranty and the spares supply. Check Companies House number 02301327 for current active status and any ownership changes, and confirm whether manufacturing is still on-site via the live website or dated trade press. If the status has changed, treat the spares and warranty case as unproven.

Verdict

The Dunsley Yorkshire Stove earns its place on fuel flexibility and current manufacturer support rather than on price. If you want one appliance that burns logs and smokeless fuel and can still be fed with a baffle plate in a decade, the room-heating model at typically around £900–£1,200 is the straightforward pick. If you need radiators and hot water as well, the Yorkshire Stove CH at typically around £1,400–£1,800 makes sense — provided you budget the additional £2,000–£4,000 or more for a compliant installation and confirm the Part G requirements first. In either case, check the DEFRA exemption listing for your exact model reference and verify the company’s trading status before you commit.