Flat Iron Powerhouse

Snapped this old piece of household equipment on my visit to Dunham Massey, another National Trust house in Cheshire. I've been many times before but have never been around the house before. During WW1 the house was converted into a military hospital for wounded Tommies brought back from the front and over the past 2 years the hospital has been recreated with actors playing the doctors, nurses and recovering soldiers. I expect these flat irons say a great deal of service during the hospital's time there.