Can you increase the opening in a chimney breast?

huggy5, Jun 27, 9:00pm
Sorry for the title, I didn't know how to explain it. I have an open fire in a house which has been boarded up (and the chimney above the roof removed). It's rented out currently so I can't check if the chimney still goes through the roof space.
Is it theoretically possible to make the chimney opening bigger so I can put in a freestanding fireplace? Or would I need to remove the whole breast?
I don't want to put in an insert fireplace.

golfdiver, Jun 27, 9:31pm
Removing all the bricks is the only way to maintain structural integrity as far as I can see.

huggy5, Jun 28, 2:48pm
Thank you, I thought it may have been possible to just raise the lintel.
I will look into getting it removed completely.

martin11, Oct 25, 2:41pm
If its an older home it may be a poured concrete chimney breast