Looks like the lamp/burner from a chafing dish or hot-water kettle to me too, agree that the cover seems like it might be awkward to use. Don't know about the U.K., but here in the U.S., it would have most likely used alcohol/spirit - clean-burning and odor-free.
Also meant to add that similar burners I've seen, had wire mesh rather than the perforated metal to contain the asbestos. Here are a couple of little excerpts: