anyone have any advice on how to remove this…
other than brute force? 
Hulk Smash!!
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thats Plan B 
Light it
Burn the house around it
Move fireplace with ease
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you guys are so much help…
You need a utility bar something like https://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-utility-bar-1-x-15/58202
You start from the top down. First work it behind the mantle shelf across the top and then evenly down each side bit by bit just work the tool in behind the surround and it will free itself soon enough. The mantles are sometimes held in by ironwork, the rest is probably held in place by mortar but there may be some ironwork too. If you can get it out in one piece it could be worth a few bob as architectural salvage too.
all done! was very easy actually!
Are you going to sell it on eBay? I sold one for £550 once. Although I think that was too cheap as when the people came to collect it they didn’t want me anywhere near it once they’d paid and were lifting the sections into their car. I should have got it valued really.
yeah its on ebay… not sure what the value is though