412 Fires & 85 Near Misses in
Heritage Building Fires Recorded on the 2020 Database.
(A Fire is defined as an uncontrolled and unwanted burning event (including explosion) causing damage to a heritage building and/or contents by at least one of the following: flame, heat, smoke or blast)
(A Near Miss is defined as an event in a heritage building that had the potential to start a fire, or a fire adjacent to a heritage building that, without intervention, could have spread to that building)
* on the incident time indicates only the approximate time of the incident is known
Heritage Building Fires Recorded on the 2020 Database.
(A Fire is defined as an uncontrolled and unwanted burning event (including explosion) causing damage to a heritage building and/or contents by at least one of the following: flame, heat, smoke or blast)
(A Near Miss is defined as an event in a heritage building that had the potential to start a fire, or a fire adjacent to a heritage building that, without intervention, could have spread to that building)
* on the incident time indicates only the approximate time of the incident is known
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“Shame on those who remain unmoved, whose pace fails to quicken, on entering one of these old habitations, a manor-house falling to wrack and ruin or a desecrated church!”
Petrus Borel, (1809 – 1859), French writer of the Romantic Period
Petrus Borel, (1809 – 1859), French writer of the Romantic Period
NEW: 2020 Fires Index |
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December - 17 Fires & 3 Near Misses
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30 December 2020 (14:00*) - Sheffield road sealed off after fire at Indian restaurant
Multiple fire engines were pictured outside the Seven Spices Balti restaurant on Gibraltar Street this afternoon. The road was sealed off while firefighters dealt with the blaze, which is understood to have been put out before crews arrived. Bus services were diverted along Corporation Street to avoid the scene but the road has since reopened. Nobody is believed to have been harmed in the incident.
The Seven Spices Balti restaurant is located in the basement of the building now known as Mayfair Court. It was built as the Common Lodging House in 1912, by John Reginald Truelove, whose father Alderman Truelove paid for the building. This was when industry in Sheffield was expanding and so cheap accommodation was needed for the growing workforce. Diamond and circular glass shapes embedded into the stone work are flagon bottles of what was Gin, consumed by the Irish builders during its construction. When empty, they were placed neck first into the bricks for decoration. It provided hostel accommodation superior to the often insanitary lodgings of private landlords, together with public rooms and social facilities. It is one of the most interesting buildings of its period in the city. The accommodation was of course basic. For fourpence a night, each resident had a small cubicle (hence all the small windows) and access to a kitchen and games-room. Common Lodging Houses were often known as the “doss-house” or the “kip-house”.
By the 1950s it was catering for the homeless and down-and-outs. Many of the men living there were old cutlery trades men who being unable to work found themselves with nowhere else to go. It was said to be rife with fleas and most of the inhabitants were covered in lice. Alcoholism and TB was the order of the day. In the 1970’s and 80’s it was the HQ of P.W. Lacey, a shoe and clothes warehouse. In the late 1980’s it was converted into flats and became "Tudor House". More recently it was renamed “Mayfair Court.”
News Source: The Star
The Seven Spices Balti restaurant is located in the basement of the building now known as Mayfair Court. It was built as the Common Lodging House in 1912, by John Reginald Truelove, whose father Alderman Truelove paid for the building. This was when industry in Sheffield was expanding and so cheap accommodation was needed for the growing workforce. Diamond and circular glass shapes embedded into the stone work are flagon bottles of what was Gin, consumed by the Irish builders during its construction. When empty, they were placed neck first into the bricks for decoration. It provided hostel accommodation superior to the often insanitary lodgings of private landlords, together with public rooms and social facilities. It is one of the most interesting buildings of its period in the city. The accommodation was of course basic. For fourpence a night, each resident had a small cubicle (hence all the small windows) and access to a kitchen and games-room. Common Lodging Houses were often known as the “doss-house” or the “kip-house”.
By the 1950s it was catering for the homeless and down-and-outs. Many of the men living there were old cutlery trades men who being unable to work found themselves with nowhere else to go. It was said to be rife with fleas and most of the inhabitants were covered in lice. Alcoholism and TB was the order of the day. In the 1970’s and 80’s it was the HQ of P.W. Lacey, a shoe and clothes warehouse. In the late 1980’s it was converted into flats and became "Tudor House". More recently it was renamed “Mayfair Court.”
News Source: The Star
29 December 2020 (23:27) - Police investigate commercial garage fire in Leicester
Police are investigating the cause of a large fire at a Leicester garage. The blaze broke out at 23:30 GMT on Tuesday in Great Central Street and spread to nearby properties causing some damage, said police. Nobody was injured but a small number of people were evacuated from an adjacent flat, said officers. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said 10 pumps were needed to control the blaze. The building contains cars and tyres and three jets were used to extinguish the fire.
Enquiries to establish the cause of the fire are continuing and no arrests have been made, said Leicestershire Police. Det Insp Mark Parish, from the force, said: "The location of the building where the fire occurred is very close to Vaughan Way - a main route through the city. I'd like to speak to anyone who was in Great Central Street or the surrounding area last night and who saw anyone acting in a manner that seemed unusual or suspicious. This includes anyone driving through the area with a dashcam in their vehicle." The road remains closed while investigations take place.
An eyewitness, who didn't want to be named, said: "I was standing in the pedestrianised area at the former Leicester Central railway station development at just before midnight. I saw lots of thick black smoke and you could hear popping and crackling sounds coming from inside the building. It was as I was standing there that the fire really caught hold and you could see the flames." A resident in a nearby block of flats, who also preferred to remain anonymous, recalls seeing "thick black smoke" obscuring her view of the street outside her window. "I noticed that there were police vans blocking the road at first but thought nothing of it," she said. "I had the window opened slightly and smelt some burning smell and looked out to find thick black smoke. That’s when I realised there was a fire." She added: "It went on for about an hour and a half but the thick black smoke lingered. I couldn't even see the Holiday Inn signage which is in bright neon green so you can imagine how thick the smoke was."
The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished shortly before 6am. The cutting away and damping down process in continuing this morning, with at least three fire appliances remaining at the scene. The fire service spokeswoman said: "A stop message was received by fire control at 5.55am this morning when most crews came away from the scene." She added: "They will remain there a little bit longer, and a fire investigation team will be going out this morning to establish the cause of the fire and assess the damage and will be liaising with the police."
One of the buildings damaged by fire spread was the Hamidiye Camii Turkish Mosque next door. The mosque is in an attractive Victorian commercial building with later top floor.
News Source: Leicester Mercury / Leicestershire Live
Enquiries to establish the cause of the fire are continuing and no arrests have been made, said Leicestershire Police. Det Insp Mark Parish, from the force, said: "The location of the building where the fire occurred is very close to Vaughan Way - a main route through the city. I'd like to speak to anyone who was in Great Central Street or the surrounding area last night and who saw anyone acting in a manner that seemed unusual or suspicious. This includes anyone driving through the area with a dashcam in their vehicle." The road remains closed while investigations take place.
An eyewitness, who didn't want to be named, said: "I was standing in the pedestrianised area at the former Leicester Central railway station development at just before midnight. I saw lots of thick black smoke and you could hear popping and crackling sounds coming from inside the building. It was as I was standing there that the fire really caught hold and you could see the flames." A resident in a nearby block of flats, who also preferred to remain anonymous, recalls seeing "thick black smoke" obscuring her view of the street outside her window. "I noticed that there were police vans blocking the road at first but thought nothing of it," she said. "I had the window opened slightly and smelt some burning smell and looked out to find thick black smoke. That’s when I realised there was a fire." She added: "It went on for about an hour and a half but the thick black smoke lingered. I couldn't even see the Holiday Inn signage which is in bright neon green so you can imagine how thick the smoke was."
The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished shortly before 6am. The cutting away and damping down process in continuing this morning, with at least three fire appliances remaining at the scene. The fire service spokeswoman said: "A stop message was received by fire control at 5.55am this morning when most crews came away from the scene." She added: "They will remain there a little bit longer, and a fire investigation team will be going out this morning to establish the cause of the fire and assess the damage and will be liaising with the police."
One of the buildings damaged by fire spread was the Hamidiye Camii Turkish Mosque next door. The mosque is in an attractive Victorian commercial building with later top floor.
News Source: Leicester Mercury / Leicestershire Live
Fire at a commercial garage on Great Central Street, Leicester. The investigation into the cause continues. (Image: Leicester Media Online)
Near Miss
29 December 2020 (17:01) - Firefighters rush to blaze in Lymington pub outbuilding
29 December 2020 (17:01) - Firefighters rush to blaze in Lymington pub outbuilding
Firefighters spent three hours battling a blaze which engulfed an outbuilding close to a Lymington pub last night (Tuesday). The fire began in the roof of the outbuilding close to The Chequers Inn, on Chequers Green, just after 5pm, prompting an alert. Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service mobilised crews from Lymington, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu, New Milton and Eastleigh.
On Twitter HF&RS added: “They dealt with a fire in the roof of an outbuilding 10m by 10m at a public house in Chequers Green, Lymington. They used 18 breathing apparatus, two hose reels and one water jet.” The incident finished just before 8.10pm, the service added.
A Grade II listed 16th century pub, The Chequers Inn is run by landlord Simon Thoyts and describes itself as “picturesque” and a “hidden gem on the edge of the historic salt marshes” on its Facebook page. According to its website, the pub’s name is based on a chequered sign which likely derives from the fact the Salt Exchequer Offices for the local salterns were formerly based at the nearby Lower Woodside Green. Dating back to the late Saxon times, Lymington was renowned for its salt making – but the practice fell into decline in the 19th century because of the burdens of taxes on salt and coal and the opening of mines in Cheshire and its links to railways that could transport the product quicker.
News Source: Advertiser and Times
On Twitter HF&RS added: “They dealt with a fire in the roof of an outbuilding 10m by 10m at a public house in Chequers Green, Lymington. They used 18 breathing apparatus, two hose reels and one water jet.” The incident finished just before 8.10pm, the service added.
A Grade II listed 16th century pub, The Chequers Inn is run by landlord Simon Thoyts and describes itself as “picturesque” and a “hidden gem on the edge of the historic salt marshes” on its Facebook page. According to its website, the pub’s name is based on a chequered sign which likely derives from the fact the Salt Exchequer Offices for the local salterns were formerly based at the nearby Lower Woodside Green. Dating back to the late Saxon times, Lymington was renowned for its salt making – but the practice fell into decline in the 19th century because of the burdens of taxes on salt and coal and the opening of mines in Cheshire and its links to railways that could transport the product quicker.
News Source: Advertiser and Times
Firefighters at the scene of the outbuilding blaze at The Chequers Inn
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Chequers Inn
Listing Date: 28 October 1974 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1237746 English Heritage Legacy ID: 415021 Location: Lymington and Pennington, New Forest, Hampshire, SO41 County: Hampshire Civil Parish: Lymington and Pennington Traditional County: Hampshire Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Hampshire Church of England Parish: Lymington St Thomas the Apostle Church of England Diocese: Winchester |
Coordinates
Latitude: 50.7416 / 50°44'29"N Longitude: -1.5451 / 1°32'42"W OS Eastings: 432192 OS Northings: 93650 OS Grid: SZ321936 Mapcode National: GBR 789.D5P Mapcode Global: FRA 77N3.V6B Plus Code: 9C2WPFR3+JW |
28 December 2020 (16:29) - 100 firefighters tackle blaze at shop and flats in Croydon
100 firefighters are currently tackling a huge blaze in Croydon. A number of Crews were in attendance in George Street just before 4.30pm, according to London Fire Brigade. Their Twitter account said the fire was at the shop, but also spread to flats above. This has now been confirmed as a restaurant, with the fire also damaging offices above on the first and second floors. Smoke is engulfing the area. Road closures are also in place with cordons surrounding the area as crews deal with the incident.
Staff working at the restaurant left before the Brigade arrived and people in the neighbouring properties have been moved as a precaution. No injuries have been reported. Station Commander Jason Jones, said: “Firefighters are working hard to tackle the fire in difficult conditions. We are using the drone to help us gain a better view of the fire from above. The town centre has been cordoned off and the tram lines in the area have been affected due to the smoke. It is likely that we will be at the scene most of the evening.”
The Brigade was called at 1629. Fire crews from Croydon, Woodside, Norbury, West Norwood, Forest Hill, Bromley, Wallington, Purley, Sutton, Addington, Mitcham and Beckenham fire stations are at the scene. A significant amount of the building has been damaged by the fire and some of the adjacent buildings have been damaged by the smoke.
The Victorian building is Locally Listed, as are most of the buildings in George Street, and lies within the Central Croydon Conservation Area.
News Source: Get Surrey / Surrey Live
Staff working at the restaurant left before the Brigade arrived and people in the neighbouring properties have been moved as a precaution. No injuries have been reported. Station Commander Jason Jones, said: “Firefighters are working hard to tackle the fire in difficult conditions. We are using the drone to help us gain a better view of the fire from above. The town centre has been cordoned off and the tram lines in the area have been affected due to the smoke. It is likely that we will be at the scene most of the evening.”
The Brigade was called at 1629. Fire crews from Croydon, Woodside, Norbury, West Norwood, Forest Hill, Bromley, Wallington, Purley, Sutton, Addington, Mitcham and Beckenham fire stations are at the scene. A significant amount of the building has been damaged by the fire and some of the adjacent buildings have been damaged by the smoke.
The Victorian building is Locally Listed, as are most of the buildings in George Street, and lies within the Central Croydon Conservation Area.
News Source: Get Surrey / Surrey Live
Fire crews work in 'difficult conditions' tackling a restaurant blaze on George Street, Croydon which spread to higher floors
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25 December 2020 (18:00*) - Elderly couple, 90 and 86, killed as fire rips through farmhouse on Christmas Day
An elderly couple was tragically killed after a fire ripped through their Sussex farmhouse on Christmas Day. Grandparents Frank, 90, and Madeleine Dougharty, 86, were found dead along with their dog Flash on the morning of Boxing Day. The blaze, near West Chiltington, is believed to have started on Christmas Day, although fire crews were not called until 9am the next day. An investigation has been launched to determine whether the fire was suspicious. The cause of the flames – which destroyed the staircase, ceiling and roof of the house – has not yet been established.
The parents-of-four spoke to their daughter Ailsa to say happy Christmas hours before the fire broke out. Son-in-law Kenneth Taylor, told The Sun: ‘It is a great shock. We were only speaking to them on Christmas.’ He added that the pair lived alone, although Frank suffered from health issues and has had a number of carers. The grandad, who was born on the farm, (and whose own grandparents moved into the farmhouse at the end of the 19th century), has been described as ‘very active’ by neighbours. Local resident Suzie Coe, 50, said the couple was the ‘heart of the community’. She said: ‘It’s just an absolute tragedy. We knew them for 20 years. They were proper farmers, proper country folk. They were the heart of the community. I feel so sad for their children.’
A joint Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service statement said: ‘Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are continuing to investigate a significant residential fire which tragically claimed the lives of two people. Emergency services responded to the incident in Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, at 9.10am on Saturday 26 December. Fire engines from the local area arrived quickly at the scene and a section of the road was closed, and the fire was extinguished. Two people were sadly confirmed deceased at the scene. Their bodies have since been recovered. They are believed to be married couple Francis Dougharty, 90, and Madeleine Dougharty, 86, however they are yet to be formally identified. Enquiries are ongoing, and a joint investigation will take place to determine the cause of the fire. We have no further information at this stage.’
The old Cattlestone Farmhouse, where the tragedy happened, is down a long driveway and is hidden from view from the main road. It existed before 1875, as it was marked on OS maps that were surveyed that year. West Chiltington is a sleepy village near Horsham, West Sussex, where average house prices top £750,000. It boasts the Grade I listed 12th century St. Mary's Church, popular tennis, crocket and football clubs and three vineyards. Around 3,300 people live in the village.
News Source: Metro
The parents-of-four spoke to their daughter Ailsa to say happy Christmas hours before the fire broke out. Son-in-law Kenneth Taylor, told The Sun: ‘It is a great shock. We were only speaking to them on Christmas.’ He added that the pair lived alone, although Frank suffered from health issues and has had a number of carers. The grandad, who was born on the farm, (and whose own grandparents moved into the farmhouse at the end of the 19th century), has been described as ‘very active’ by neighbours. Local resident Suzie Coe, 50, said the couple was the ‘heart of the community’. She said: ‘It’s just an absolute tragedy. We knew them for 20 years. They were proper farmers, proper country folk. They were the heart of the community. I feel so sad for their children.’
A joint Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service statement said: ‘Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are continuing to investigate a significant residential fire which tragically claimed the lives of two people. Emergency services responded to the incident in Harbolets Road, West Chiltington, at 9.10am on Saturday 26 December. Fire engines from the local area arrived quickly at the scene and a section of the road was closed, and the fire was extinguished. Two people were sadly confirmed deceased at the scene. Their bodies have since been recovered. They are believed to be married couple Francis Dougharty, 90, and Madeleine Dougharty, 86, however they are yet to be formally identified. Enquiries are ongoing, and a joint investigation will take place to determine the cause of the fire. We have no further information at this stage.’
The old Cattlestone Farmhouse, where the tragedy happened, is down a long driveway and is hidden from view from the main road. It existed before 1875, as it was marked on OS maps that were surveyed that year. West Chiltington is a sleepy village near Horsham, West Sussex, where average house prices top £750,000. It boasts the Grade I listed 12th century St. Mary's Church, popular tennis, crocket and football clubs and three vineyards. Around 3,300 people live in the village.
News Source: Metro
Frank, 90, and Madeleine Dougharty, 86, were found dead on Boxing Day
Near Miss
23 December 2020 (21:44) - Village nativity scene burns down on Christmas Eve - a year on from being stolen
23 December 2020 (21:44) - Village nativity scene burns down on Christmas Eve - a year on from being stolen
A brilliant wooden Christmas nativity scene in Raglan, which was stolen last year, has burnt down a year later on Christmas Eve. The festive bus stop, funded by the Beaufort Hotel in the village and put together by retired theatre design lecturer and resident Liz Friendship, has had terrible misfortune since it was thought up in 2018. Ms Friendship explained: “In 2018 Mary was taken, in 2019 two shepherds were stolen and never came back, and in 2020 it’s burnt down. It’s now just three kings staring at the bus stop. It’s very sad. But it hasn’t dampened our Christmas spirit. It’s a lovely community and while it’s a shame, I know people appreciate the sentiment and the efforts we’ve put in this year.”
The fire occurred at around 10pm on Christmas Eve, but it is not known at this time if the incident is being treated as suspicious. Owner of the Beaufort Hotel Miguel Santiago said: “It was late on Christmas Eve, on the same day we’d put it up, when I saw it engulfed. Fortunately I was at the hotel and put it out as soon as I saw it, but by then much of the damage had been done. I couldn’t believe it. It’s a shame because so much effort went into putting it together this year. Liz and I were committed to bringing it back even better after last year’s problems, and we had brought it back better. We added three kings which really made it a great sight, we made sure the figures couldn’t be taken, and we put CCTV in the bus stop. It’s hugely unfortunate again, but we will do what we can to make it better again for next year – and maybe in a different location.”
Monmouth MS Nick Ramsay, who supplies the electrics and lighting for the nativity each year, praised those who work hard to bring the nativity to Raglan each year. “I know how much went into this nativity this year, and the importance of things like the nativity became even greater after the year we’ve had,” he said. There are a lot of people on board helping bring it to life, and it’s a reminder of how brilliant this village is.” Mr Santiago is asking for any witnesses to call the Beaufort Hotel directly.
Update: CCTV footage has emerged that captured the moment vandals launched a petrol bomb at the shelter.
The bus stop that is used to house the nativity scene stands next to a Grade II listed K6 type telephone box, which dates from the reign of George VI.
News Source: South Wales Argus
The fire occurred at around 10pm on Christmas Eve, but it is not known at this time if the incident is being treated as suspicious. Owner of the Beaufort Hotel Miguel Santiago said: “It was late on Christmas Eve, on the same day we’d put it up, when I saw it engulfed. Fortunately I was at the hotel and put it out as soon as I saw it, but by then much of the damage had been done. I couldn’t believe it. It’s a shame because so much effort went into putting it together this year. Liz and I were committed to bringing it back even better after last year’s problems, and we had brought it back better. We added three kings which really made it a great sight, we made sure the figures couldn’t be taken, and we put CCTV in the bus stop. It’s hugely unfortunate again, but we will do what we can to make it better again for next year – and maybe in a different location.”
Monmouth MS Nick Ramsay, who supplies the electrics and lighting for the nativity each year, praised those who work hard to bring the nativity to Raglan each year. “I know how much went into this nativity this year, and the importance of things like the nativity became even greater after the year we’ve had,” he said. There are a lot of people on board helping bring it to life, and it’s a reminder of how brilliant this village is.” Mr Santiago is asking for any witnesses to call the Beaufort Hotel directly.
Update: CCTV footage has emerged that captured the moment vandals launched a petrol bomb at the shelter.
The bus stop that is used to house the nativity scene stands next to a Grade II listed K6 type telephone box, which dates from the reign of George VI.
News Source: South Wales Argus
Raglan's wooden nativity scene burns down just a year after it was stolen
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Telephone Call-box
Listing Date: 24 August 1990 Last Amended: 31 January 2001 Grade: II Source: Cadw Source ID: 2838 Building Class: Communications Location: Situated some 50m W of junction with Chepstow Road opposite Beaufort Arms Hotel. County: Monmouthshire Town: Raglan Community: Raglan (Rhaglan) Community: Raglan Built-Up Area: Raglan Traditional County: Monmouthshire |
Coordinates
Latitude: 51.7647 / 51°45'52"N Longitude: -2.8525 / 2°51'8"W OS Eastings: 341264 OS Northings: 207677 OS Grid: SO412076 Mapcode National: GBR JC.055L Mapcode Global: VH79H.HXV2 Plus Code: 9C3VQ47X+V2 |
21 December 2020 (19:40) - Police close off Aylestone Road as firefighters remove man from blazing flat
A major Leicester road was closed last night while firefighters removed a man from a burning flat. Police shut off the city-bound section of Aylestone Road in Leicester while fire crews tackled the blaze at a second floor flat in the street. The flat was located in a building near the junction of Aylestone Road and Middleton Street, in Aylestone.
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were called at 7.40pm to a report of a fire in a domestic property in Aylestone Road with persons reported inside. When we arrived there was fire in second floor flat in a three-storey block of residential flats. A man was removed from the second floor flat. The fire was extinguished. There has been an initial investigation into the cause of the blaze. We are going back to the scene today for a further investigation. The police and East Midlands Ambulance Service were also in attendance." It is not known if the man was taken to hospital. Leicestershire Police tweeted at 8.28pm yesterday: "Aylestone Road - Citybound is closed due to a police incident. Please find alternative routes."
The Aylestone Village Conservation Area Appraisal says that the Victorian villas at 705-717 Aylestone Road “are an interesting contrast in scale and design. Their most prominent features are the stone built double height bay windows surmounted by big dormers with curved Dutch style gables, and the segmental arch details over the ground floor windows and paired doors.” They are classified as Buildings that make a positive contribution to the character of the Conservation Area.
News Source: Leicester Mercury / Leicestershire Live
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were called at 7.40pm to a report of a fire in a domestic property in Aylestone Road with persons reported inside. When we arrived there was fire in second floor flat in a three-storey block of residential flats. A man was removed from the second floor flat. The fire was extinguished. There has been an initial investigation into the cause of the blaze. We are going back to the scene today for a further investigation. The police and East Midlands Ambulance Service were also in attendance." It is not known if the man was taken to hospital. Leicestershire Police tweeted at 8.28pm yesterday: "Aylestone Road - Citybound is closed due to a police incident. Please find alternative routes."
The Aylestone Village Conservation Area Appraisal says that the Victorian villas at 705-717 Aylestone Road “are an interesting contrast in scale and design. Their most prominent features are the stone built double height bay windows surmounted by big dormers with curved Dutch style gables, and the segmental arch details over the ground floor windows and paired doors.” They are classified as Buildings that make a positive contribution to the character of the Conservation Area.
News Source: Leicester Mercury / Leicestershire Live
Firefighters in Aylestone Road
20 December 2020 (02:43) - Police investigating mysterious building fire that shut down Kilmarnock town centre
Police are investigating a mysterious blaze that shut down Kilmarnock town centre at the weekend. The former Conservative Club building on Sturrock Street burst into flames in the early hours of Sunday morning. The inferno sparked traffic chaos after police closed part of the one way system on what was the last weekend for shoppers to head to town ahead of Christmas. Several town centre car parks were empty well into the afternoon to allow officials to carry out investigations at the derelict Victorian building.
Police confirmed on Monday that the blaze was being treated as unexplained. A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We received a report of a building fire on Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock around 2.45am on Sunday, 20 December. Officers attended along with personnel from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is being treated as unexplained and enquiries remain ongoing.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman added: “We were alerted at 2.43am on Sunday, December 20 to reports of a building on fire at Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Operations Control mobilised four appliances to the scene.Firefighters extinguished a fire within the first floor of a two-storey building. Crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.There were no reported casualties.”
David McDowall, interim head of planning and economic development at East Ayrshire Council said: “The former Conservative Club on Sturrock Street, which is a vacant and derelict Category B Listed Building, was subject to fire damage during the early hours of Sunday 20 December. Scottish Fire and Rescue extinguished the fire, which has significantly destroyed the roof to the front elevation of the building as well as damaged the upper floor. Police Scotland are currently investigating the incident and when their investigation is completed responsibility will be passed to the council to progress further actions under Section 29 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. To support the police and fire services, the council initiated powers under Section 29 of the above Act to secure the building and install a Heras fence perimeter around the affected areas. This enabled the road to be reopened at noon on Sunday, which ensured that people had access to the town centre and the adjacent public car parks. A reduced footpath has also been provided to facilitate access to the pedestrian crossing into the town centre. When Police Scotland pass the building over to the council, a Structural Engineer will assess the building to enable a decision to take on its long term future.”
The cream sandstone building first opened its doors in the late 1880s. As the Conservative club it had its highs and lows over the years, but became less and less popular and more and more expensive to operate and maintain. The local Tories sold the premises to a Kilmarnock property company in 2012, though it had seen its heyday many years before that. A fire in December 2014 also caused huge damage to the first floor of the already derelict building. The cause was arson.
Council bosses confirmed on the 7th January that the former Conservative Club on Sturrock Street will be razed using emergency powers because of severe structural damage as a result of a deliberate blaze on Sunday, December 20. A spokeswoman for East Ayrshire Council said: "The Category B Listed Building has been assessed by a structural engineer and as a result of the internal structural damage sustained by the fire, the building will be demolished by the council’s demolition contractor using emergency powers under Section 29 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. The demolition contractor is putting measures in place to allow the safe demolition of the building and to reduce the impact on the local area and road network over the duration of the works.”
News Source: Daily Record
Police confirmed on Monday that the blaze was being treated as unexplained. A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We received a report of a building fire on Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock around 2.45am on Sunday, 20 December. Officers attended along with personnel from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is being treated as unexplained and enquiries remain ongoing.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman added: “We were alerted at 2.43am on Sunday, December 20 to reports of a building on fire at Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Operations Control mobilised four appliances to the scene.Firefighters extinguished a fire within the first floor of a two-storey building. Crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.There were no reported casualties.”
David McDowall, interim head of planning and economic development at East Ayrshire Council said: “The former Conservative Club on Sturrock Street, which is a vacant and derelict Category B Listed Building, was subject to fire damage during the early hours of Sunday 20 December. Scottish Fire and Rescue extinguished the fire, which has significantly destroyed the roof to the front elevation of the building as well as damaged the upper floor. Police Scotland are currently investigating the incident and when their investigation is completed responsibility will be passed to the council to progress further actions under Section 29 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. To support the police and fire services, the council initiated powers under Section 29 of the above Act to secure the building and install a Heras fence perimeter around the affected areas. This enabled the road to be reopened at noon on Sunday, which ensured that people had access to the town centre and the adjacent public car parks. A reduced footpath has also been provided to facilitate access to the pedestrian crossing into the town centre. When Police Scotland pass the building over to the council, a Structural Engineer will assess the building to enable a decision to take on its long term future.”
The cream sandstone building first opened its doors in the late 1880s. As the Conservative club it had its highs and lows over the years, but became less and less popular and more and more expensive to operate and maintain. The local Tories sold the premises to a Kilmarnock property company in 2012, though it had seen its heyday many years before that. A fire in December 2014 also caused huge damage to the first floor of the already derelict building. The cause was arson.
Council bosses confirmed on the 7th January that the former Conservative Club on Sturrock Street will be razed using emergency powers because of severe structural damage as a result of a deliberate blaze on Sunday, December 20. A spokeswoman for East Ayrshire Council said: "The Category B Listed Building has been assessed by a structural engineer and as a result of the internal structural damage sustained by the fire, the building will be demolished by the council’s demolition contractor using emergency powers under Section 29 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. The demolition contractor is putting measures in place to allow the safe demolition of the building and to reduce the impact on the local area and road network over the duration of the works.”
News Source: Daily Record
Fire at the former Conservative Club in Kilmarnock on December 20, 2020 (Image: Les Heal)
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Conservative Club, 24 Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock
Listing Name: 24 Sturrock Street, Conservative Club, Including Boundary Wall Listing Date: 3 July 1980 Category: B Source: Historic Scotland Source ID: 380659 Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB35967 Building Class: Cultural Location: Kilmarnock County: East Ayrshire Town: Kilmarnock Electoral Ward: Kilmarnock East and Hurlford Traditional County: Ayrshire |
Coordinates
Latitude: 55.6084 / 55°36'30"N Longitude: -4.4951 / 4°29'42"W OS Eastings: 242926 OS Northings: 637802 OS Grid: NS429378 Mapcode National: GBR 3G.MR7B Mapcode Global: WH3Q9.X9NC Plus Code: 9C7QJG53+9X |
19 December 2020 (21:30*) - 50 firefighters tackle thatched roof blaze in village near Stockbridge
50 Firefighters from across the region have been battling a thatched roof fire in Kings Somborne overnight. Firefighters were called to a thatched roof fire by a neighbour, with an outbuilding ablaze. The timber frame outbuilding was seriously damaged in the incident. Teams from across Hampshire, including Andover, Sutton Scotney, Whitchurch, Fareham and Romsey were all called to tackle the blaze.
Firefighters fought for several hours to control the flames, with the neighbouring house protected by the use of dry foam, which is designed to prevent flammable objects coming in contact with oxygen, so they cannot burn. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
The outbuilding is a Grade II listed 18th century cob barn which stands in the garden of Grade II listed 16th century Froham’s Farmhouse.
News Source: Andover Advertiser
Firefighters fought for several hours to control the flames, with the neighbouring house protected by the use of dry foam, which is designed to prevent flammable objects coming in contact with oxygen, so they cannot burn. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
The outbuilding is a Grade II listed 18th century cob barn which stands in the garden of Grade II listed 16th century Froham’s Farmhouse.
News Source: Andover Advertiser
Andover firefighters called to tackle thatched blaze in Kings Somborne (Credit: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service)
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Barn and Shed Immediately North West of Frohams Farmhouse
Listing Date: 7 February 1986 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1167476 English Heritage Legacy ID: 140782 Location: Kings Somborne, Test Valley, Hampshire, SO20 County: Hampshire Civil Parish: Kings Somborne Built-Up Area: King's Somborne Traditional County: Hampshire Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Hampshire Church of England Parish: Somborne with Ashley St Peter and St Paul Church of England Diocese: Winchester |
Coordinates
Latitude: 51.079 / 51°4'44"N Longitude: -1.4878 / 1°29'16"W OS Eastings: 435977 OS Northings: 131204 OS Grid: SU359312 Mapcode National: GBR 749.8P9 Mapcode Global: FRA 76S8.D77 Plus Code: 9C3W3GH6+JV |
Near Miss
18 December 2020 (12:38) - Inferno rages above rooftops as arson blamed for town centre blaze
18 December 2020 (12:38) - Inferno rages above rooftops as arson blamed for town centre blaze
Investigators are treating a blaze that ripped through the roof of a building site in Runcorn as arson. Emergency services descended on Trinity Street at 12.38pm today following reports of a fire in an empty house and outbuilding in the town centre close to Runcorn Swimming Pool. Homes were evacuated as firefighters tackled the inferno.
Dramatic footage of the incident has emerged on social media, showing flames raging and black smoke billowing skywards. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews deployed four hose jets to douse keep the blaze contained, and an aerial platform was used to assess the scene from above. In an update released at 2.20pm, the fire service said breathing apparatus was switched off and hoses reduced to three. Firefighters and police remained at the scene with a cordon in place this afternoon.
Charred rafters could be seen in the roofspace. No-one was injured during the incident, and firefighters made the scene safe. A Cheshire fire service spokesperson said, "The roof was stripped so firefighters could check for fire spread. Crews are now damping down the area. Nearby residents have been able to return to their homes."
Firefighters inspected nearby Holy Trinity Church with a thermal imaging camera to check the fire hadn't spread there. The church was built in 1838 as an evangelical alternative to the parish church of Runcorn. The cost was met by public subscription, with John and Thomas Johnson, soap and alkali manufacturers, being the principal subscribers. It was designed by Joseph Hartley, a local architect, and the church was built by William Rigby, a local builder. The original chancel was short and a longer chancel was added in 1857. The Church is Grade II listed.
News Source: Liverpool Echo
Dramatic footage of the incident has emerged on social media, showing flames raging and black smoke billowing skywards. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews deployed four hose jets to douse keep the blaze contained, and an aerial platform was used to assess the scene from above. In an update released at 2.20pm, the fire service said breathing apparatus was switched off and hoses reduced to three. Firefighters and police remained at the scene with a cordon in place this afternoon.
Charred rafters could be seen in the roofspace. No-one was injured during the incident, and firefighters made the scene safe. A Cheshire fire service spokesperson said, "The roof was stripped so firefighters could check for fire spread. Crews are now damping down the area. Nearby residents have been able to return to their homes."
Firefighters inspected nearby Holy Trinity Church with a thermal imaging camera to check the fire hadn't spread there. The church was built in 1838 as an evangelical alternative to the parish church of Runcorn. The cost was met by public subscription, with John and Thomas Johnson, soap and alkali manufacturers, being the principal subscribers. It was designed by Joseph Hartley, a local architect, and the church was built by William Rigby, a local builder. The original chancel was short and a longer chancel was added in 1857. The Church is Grade II listed.
News Source: Liverpool Echo
Aerial images of the scene of the fire on Trinity Street in Runcorn this afternoon, Friday, December 18. Pictures: Ian Cank Aerial Photography. (Image: Ian Cank Aerial Photography.)
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Church of the Holy Trinity
Listing Date: 31 October 1983 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1130441 English Heritage Legacy ID: 56041 Location: Halton, WA7 County: Halton Electoral Ward/Division: Mersey Built-Up Area: Runcorn Traditional County: Cheshire Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Cheshire Church of England Parish: Runcorn Holy Trinity Church of England Diocese: Chester |
Coordinates
Latitude: 53.3422 / 53°20'31"N Longitude: -2.7282 / 2°43'41"W OS Eastings: 351614 OS Northings: 383058 OS Grid: SJ516830 Mapcode National: GBR 9YDS.4M Mapcode Global: WH87R.2844 Plus Code: 9C5V87RC+VP |
13 December 2020 (08:46) - Fire crews called to reports of a blaze in Edinburgh city centre street
Emergency services put out a fire at temporary accommodation for homeless people in Leith on Sunday morning with one man being checked over for injuries. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent out three fire appliances at 8.46am on Sunday to an address on Leith Street, however, left the scene shortly after. The Scottish Fire and Rescue services said: “A male was checked over at the scene but did not need to go to hospital.” Police and ambulance services were also reported to be in attendance.
Edinburgh Council, who own Leith Street Hostel, said the fire was ‘very small’ and no one was injured. The fire was in one bedroom of the hostel and the resident staying there has been moved to a different room due to superficial damage. An Edinburgh Council Spokesperson: “It was a small domestic fire which could have happened in any house in one room of the hostel and was put out by the fire service. No residents were injured.”
The building is Category B listed, built around 1780.
News Source: Edinburgh Evening News
Edinburgh Council, who own Leith Street Hostel, said the fire was ‘very small’ and no one was injured. The fire was in one bedroom of the hostel and the resident staying there has been moved to a different room due to superficial damage. An Edinburgh Council Spokesperson: “It was a small domestic fire which could have happened in any house in one room of the hostel and was put out by the fire service. No residents were injured.”
The building is Category B listed, built around 1780.
News Source: Edinburgh Evening News
Firefighters at the scene
10 December 2020 (20:47) - Fire in hotel laundry room in West Lulworth
Firefighters have been called to a blaze in the laundry room of a hotel. Three fire engines were called to reports of a property fire on Main Street in West Lulworth at around 8.47pm yesterday. Upon arrival, crews from Wareham, Bere Regis and Poole found a fire involving tea towels in the ground floor laundry room of the hotel. Two firefighters wearing breathing kits used one hose reel jet to extinguish the flames and used positive pressure ventilation to clear the smoke. A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said: "The fire involved numerous tea towels. We attended the scene and a crew wearing breathing apparatus from Wareham entered the property and quickly took control." The crews returned to their stations at around 10pm.
Lulworth Lodge Hotel was originally a watermill and dates back to the 19th century.
News Source: Dorset Echo
Lulworth Lodge Hotel was originally a watermill and dates back to the 19th century.
News Source: Dorset Echo
Firefighters called to blaze in hotel laundry room (Picture: Bere Regis Fire Station)
8 December 2020 (10:48) - Emergency services tackle fire at Hastings seafront property
Hastings seafront was closed to traffic while police and the fire service dealt with a chimney fire. Pictures from the scene showed two fire engines outside a property opposite Source Park on the A259 White Rock. East Sussex Fire said firefighters were called to an accidental chimney fire at 10.48am on Tuesday morning (December 8). Three appliances attended, including the aerial ladder platform, where they tackled the fire with one hose reel jet, the fire service said. The incident was closed just after midday, according to the fire service.
Police were in attendance for traffic management and closed the road in both directions between the White Rock Theatre and Robertson Street. Traffic reports said the road was shut at about 11.30am. A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police attended White Rock, Hastings, on Tuesday morning (December 8) to support East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service with a road closure."
The property involved is a Grade II listed building, built in about 1800.
News Source: Hastings Observer
Police were in attendance for traffic management and closed the road in both directions between the White Rock Theatre and Robertson Street. Traffic reports said the road was shut at about 11.30am. A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Police attended White Rock, Hastings, on Tuesday morning (December 8) to support East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service with a road closure."
The property involved is a Grade II listed building, built in about 1800.
News Source: Hastings Observer
Listing Details
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Entry Name: 21 and 22, White Rock
Listing Date: 19 January 1951 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1043380 English Heritage Legacy ID: 294152 Location: Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 County: East Sussex District: Hastings Town: Hastings Electoral Ward/Division: Castle Built-Up Area: Hastings Traditional County: Sussex Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): East Sussex Church of England Parish: Hastings Holy Trinity Church of England Diocese: Chichester |
Coordinates
Latitude: 50.8541 / 50°51'14"N Longitude: 0.5743 / 0°34'27"E OS Eastings: 581292 OS Northings: 109217 OS Grid: TQ812092 Mapcode National: GBR PXB.810 Mapcode Global: FRA D62V.5KC Plus Code: 9F22VH3F+JP |
7 December 2020 (03:55) - Historic Fort William building gutted by early hours blaze
One of Fort William’s historic buildings in the town’s West End has been almost totally destroyed by a blaze which broken out in the early hours of this morning (Monday). Fire appliances and crews from Fort William, Kinlochleven and Oban were reported to have rushed to the scene of the fire in the town’s Station Square after the alarm was raised around 3.55am. Firefighters battled flames and smoke throughout the night, but the Pier Head chip shop and takeaway together with John Wilson Barbershop and a beauty salon were burned out.
Fire crews were still on scene this morning. In a statement, Police Scotland, which had officers also on site assisting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said ‘Around 3.55am on Monday, December 7, police were called to a report of a fire in Station Square, Fort William. Officers are still at the scene.’ A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service added: ‘Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and one height appliance to the scene and firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. There were no reported casualties. Crews have now left the scene, however firefighters will continue to monitor the building to check for any remaining hotspots.’ The A82 southbound dual carriageway was closed in Fort William to ensure the emergency services had room to operate.
Posting on his Facebook page on Monday, Mr Wilson thanked local residents for their messages of support: ‘Dear people of Fort William, thank you so much for all your kind words it means a lot. I am heartbroken with losing the shop and thanks for all the nice offers which I will think over and decide what to do.’ By Tuesday, Mr Wilson was saying he was hopeful he could be back trading soon at an alternative location.
Aylie McMinn, the owner of the Aylz, Nailz and beauty salon, which was also damaged in the fire, posted on social media: ‘Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has reached out, with offers of help, support, spaces to use in the meantime etc. You have no idea how much it means!’
News Source: Oban Times
Fire crews were still on scene this morning. In a statement, Police Scotland, which had officers also on site assisting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said ‘Around 3.55am on Monday, December 7, police were called to a report of a fire in Station Square, Fort William. Officers are still at the scene.’ A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service added: ‘Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and one height appliance to the scene and firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. There were no reported casualties. Crews have now left the scene, however firefighters will continue to monitor the building to check for any remaining hotspots.’ The A82 southbound dual carriageway was closed in Fort William to ensure the emergency services had room to operate.
Posting on his Facebook page on Monday, Mr Wilson thanked local residents for their messages of support: ‘Dear people of Fort William, thank you so much for all your kind words it means a lot. I am heartbroken with losing the shop and thanks for all the nice offers which I will think over and decide what to do.’ By Tuesday, Mr Wilson was saying he was hopeful he could be back trading soon at an alternative location.
Aylie McMinn, the owner of the Aylz, Nailz and beauty salon, which was also damaged in the fire, posted on social media: ‘Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has reached out, with offers of help, support, spaces to use in the meantime etc. You have no idea how much it means!’
News Source: Oban Times
4 December 2020 (17:09) - Major fire in St Ives seafood restaurant on Wharf Road
A fire investigation will begin this morning into the cause of a major blaze that destroyed a St Ives business last night. The fire is understood to have originated in a seafood restaurant on Wharf Road. The alarm was first raised at 5.09pm. Fire crews from St Ives, Penzance and Hayle were sent initially, but the severity of the flames meant that at one stage there were 12 fire appliances tackling the incident.
A Cornwall Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Soon after arriving at the property a request for ‘make pumps six’ was made and further appliances from Penzance and Perranporth were mobilised to the scene. The incident escalated and at 10.20pm the request for ‘make pumps 12 and aerial ladder platforms two’ was made. "Appliances were mobilised to the scene from across the county, along with various supporting appliances and flexi duty officers."
Specialist equipment brought in included aerial ladder platforms, incident command units, breathing apparatus support unit, a welfare vehicle and high volume pump. An environmental response vehicle and the Red Cross Emergency Response vehicle were also brought in to support firefighters and others at the scene. A further six appliances were sent at 11pm, as relief pumps for those who had been battling the fire for six hours by that point. Crews from St Ives, Penzance, Hayle, Perranporth, Falmouth, St Just, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Helston, St Dennis, Tolvaddon, Mevagissey, Wadebridge, Fowey, Bodmin and Padstow were involved in fighting the fire. Other stations including Mullion, St Keverne and Polruan provided cover.
The incident began scaling back not long after 2.30am and by 4.30am firefighters had entered the building wearing breathing apparatus and begun cutting away parts of it, and damping down. A fire spokesperson said: "An initial fire investigation is to be carried out later today to identify the cause of the fire."
The building was originally the second lifeboat house at St Ives, the first being located near Porthgwidden Beach. It was built around 1867 and was replaced by a new house on the Quay in 1911. It lies within St Ives Conservation Area.
The fire also spread to the adjacent building where The Salvation Army is based. They have been told most of their donations that they'd been planning to hand out this Christmas have been ruined. They included around a hundred toys and some food hampers. Since the fire, thousands of pounds have been donated to the charity's just giving page. Nathan Loxley from The Salvation Army said the money will be used to replace the items lost, providing presents and food for those struggling this Christmas. He said The Salvation Army has been in the building since it was built, more than 140 years ago, and luckily there has not been any structural damage to it
News Source: The Falmouth Packet
A Cornwall Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Soon after arriving at the property a request for ‘make pumps six’ was made and further appliances from Penzance and Perranporth were mobilised to the scene. The incident escalated and at 10.20pm the request for ‘make pumps 12 and aerial ladder platforms two’ was made. "Appliances were mobilised to the scene from across the county, along with various supporting appliances and flexi duty officers."
Specialist equipment brought in included aerial ladder platforms, incident command units, breathing apparatus support unit, a welfare vehicle and high volume pump. An environmental response vehicle and the Red Cross Emergency Response vehicle were also brought in to support firefighters and others at the scene. A further six appliances were sent at 11pm, as relief pumps for those who had been battling the fire for six hours by that point. Crews from St Ives, Penzance, Hayle, Perranporth, Falmouth, St Just, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Helston, St Dennis, Tolvaddon, Mevagissey, Wadebridge, Fowey, Bodmin and Padstow were involved in fighting the fire. Other stations including Mullion, St Keverne and Polruan provided cover.
The incident began scaling back not long after 2.30am and by 4.30am firefighters had entered the building wearing breathing apparatus and begun cutting away parts of it, and damping down. A fire spokesperson said: "An initial fire investigation is to be carried out later today to identify the cause of the fire."
The building was originally the second lifeboat house at St Ives, the first being located near Porthgwidden Beach. It was built around 1867 and was replaced by a new house on the Quay in 1911. It lies within St Ives Conservation Area.
The fire also spread to the adjacent building where The Salvation Army is based. They have been told most of their donations that they'd been planning to hand out this Christmas have been ruined. They included around a hundred toys and some food hampers. Since the fire, thousands of pounds have been donated to the charity's just giving page. Nathan Loxley from The Salvation Army said the money will be used to replace the items lost, providing presents and food for those struggling this Christmas. He said The Salvation Army has been in the building since it was built, more than 140 years ago, and luckily there has not been any structural damage to it
News Source: The Falmouth Packet
The fire broke out in a seafood restaurant.
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The building was originally the second lifeboat house at St Ives
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3 December 2020 (19:25) - Fire next to First and Last pub, East Cliff, Dover
Two fire engines were called to a blaze at a house yesterday in East Cliff, Dover. Firefighters were there from 7.25pm until 8.55pm. A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Crews used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire on the first floor. There were no reported casualties and the cause is believed to be accidental. Kent Police also attended." It is understood that the property, which had recently been sold, was in the middle of being renovated.
It was later revealed that a cannabis farm was uncovered following the fire. A spokesman for police said: "At 7.52pm on Thursday, December 3, Kent Police was notified that a small cannabis cultivation had been uncovered at a property in East Cliff, Dover, following a fire. Officers are investigating the circumstances and their enquiries are ongoing. The fire was safely extinguished by Kent Fire and Rescue Service."
Situated in one of Dover's oldest streets, directly under the famous White Cliffs, and next to the First and Last pub (formerly The Albion), this house (number 59) has had its ups and downs over the years. It was originally built in the early 19th century, but on the 17th November 1872, heavy rain caused a large part of the chalk East Cliff to fall onto, and demolish two houses, including this particular one. Thankfully no humans died in the incident, but a number of pigs were buried by the rocks. The event gives a date when the house was rebuilt c.1873. The house lies within East Cliff Conservation Area.
News Source: Kent Online
It was later revealed that a cannabis farm was uncovered following the fire. A spokesman for police said: "At 7.52pm on Thursday, December 3, Kent Police was notified that a small cannabis cultivation had been uncovered at a property in East Cliff, Dover, following a fire. Officers are investigating the circumstances and their enquiries are ongoing. The fire was safely extinguished by Kent Fire and Rescue Service."
Situated in one of Dover's oldest streets, directly under the famous White Cliffs, and next to the First and Last pub (formerly The Albion), this house (number 59) has had its ups and downs over the years. It was originally built in the early 19th century, but on the 17th November 1872, heavy rain caused a large part of the chalk East Cliff to fall onto, and demolish two houses, including this particular one. Thankfully no humans died in the incident, but a number of pigs were buried by the rocks. The event gives a date when the house was rebuilt c.1873. The house lies within East Cliff Conservation Area.
News Source: Kent Online
Firefighters at the scene
3 December 2020 (16:35*) - Mackworth church fire: Grade I listed chapel 'destroyed'
A centuries-old village church has been ravaged by a huge fire. Pictures of the blaze at All Saints' Church in Mackworth, Derbyshire, show significant damage to the roof of the Grade I listed building. Church warden Prof Bryan Jones said he felt "absolutely numb... watching 1,000 years of history go up in flames".
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the blaze was unclear but the possibility of an arson attack was being investigated. Six crews were sent to Lower Road just after 16:30 GMT and remain at the scene. Clive Stanbrook, from the service, said "Unfortunately the fire was so well developed by the time firefighters arrived on scene, that the church has suffered significant structural damage. We're doing all we can to try and save the external shell of the church. It is tragic for the area. Our thoughts this evening go out to the community and congregation of All Saints Church who will no doubt be devastated by this tragic fire." The roof has collapsed and there is "extensive" damage to the interior. Mr Stanbrook said it was too early to establish the cause, but a number of suspected arsons at schools and fires at churches over the past few months meant a thorough investigation had been launched. Firefighters were still at the scene at 9pm, and are expected to remain on scene into the night, damping down and checking for hot spots.
Vicar Jacqueline Stober said: "I'm absolutely devastated. It's a terrible thing that has happened. It's an absolutely beautiful church. This year we were planning on celebrating its 700th anniversary but we had to delay that because of Covid. I can guarantee that worship has happened here for a thousand years and there will be, in some form or other, worship here for the next one thousand years."
Local auctioneer Charles Hanson said he was "gutted" at learning of the blaze. He tweeted: "I married here, loved ones are buried here. It has witnessed so much, survived so much, until this. I hope [it was] not a cruel act of arson."
Update: A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze ripped through and seriously damaged a centuries-old village church. Derbyshire Police would not confirm the male suspect's age and said inquiries were at an "early stage".
Don McLure, treasurer at the church, said: "What's left of the building is just the stonework. Some people have been coming here for 50, 60 years and this will be devastating for them. But we will pull together on this, we will get through this and in months to come, church life will be back." Clive Stanbrook, from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "With the wooden roof and all the wooden fittings, we had to put enough water on it to make sure it wasn't going to reignite. I hope the building can be saved. These are significant structures with thick walls with buttresses - an internal wall looked to be compromised but hopefully the rest can be saved. We had a structural engineer there last night but there were cracks in the building so it was too unsafe. We will go back this morning with the police and look at every possibility."
Parts of Grade I listed All Saints Church date back to the early 14th century, but there has been a place of worship on the location since the 11th Century
News Source: BBC News
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the blaze was unclear but the possibility of an arson attack was being investigated. Six crews were sent to Lower Road just after 16:30 GMT and remain at the scene. Clive Stanbrook, from the service, said "Unfortunately the fire was so well developed by the time firefighters arrived on scene, that the church has suffered significant structural damage. We're doing all we can to try and save the external shell of the church. It is tragic for the area. Our thoughts this evening go out to the community and congregation of All Saints Church who will no doubt be devastated by this tragic fire." The roof has collapsed and there is "extensive" damage to the interior. Mr Stanbrook said it was too early to establish the cause, but a number of suspected arsons at schools and fires at churches over the past few months meant a thorough investigation had been launched. Firefighters were still at the scene at 9pm, and are expected to remain on scene into the night, damping down and checking for hot spots.
Vicar Jacqueline Stober said: "I'm absolutely devastated. It's a terrible thing that has happened. It's an absolutely beautiful church. This year we were planning on celebrating its 700th anniversary but we had to delay that because of Covid. I can guarantee that worship has happened here for a thousand years and there will be, in some form or other, worship here for the next one thousand years."
Local auctioneer Charles Hanson said he was "gutted" at learning of the blaze. He tweeted: "I married here, loved ones are buried here. It has witnessed so much, survived so much, until this. I hope [it was] not a cruel act of arson."
Update: A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze ripped through and seriously damaged a centuries-old village church. Derbyshire Police would not confirm the male suspect's age and said inquiries were at an "early stage".
Don McLure, treasurer at the church, said: "What's left of the building is just the stonework. Some people have been coming here for 50, 60 years and this will be devastating for them. But we will pull together on this, we will get through this and in months to come, church life will be back." Clive Stanbrook, from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "With the wooden roof and all the wooden fittings, we had to put enough water on it to make sure it wasn't going to reignite. I hope the building can be saved. These are significant structures with thick walls with buttresses - an internal wall looked to be compromised but hopefully the rest can be saved. We had a structural engineer there last night but there were cracks in the building so it was too unsafe. We will go back this morning with the police and look at every possibility."
Parts of Grade I listed All Saints Church date back to the early 14th century, but there has been a place of worship on the location since the 11th Century
News Source: BBC News
The fire appears to have destroyed parts of the roof (Photo: DFRS)
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Aerial picture of the aftermath of the devastating fire at All Saints Church in Mackworth (Image: @eighty4images Martin Ridgers)
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Church of All Saints
Listing Date: 13 February 1967 Grade: I Source: Historic England Source ID: 1158642 English Heritage Legacy ID: 78925 Location: Mackworth, Amber Valley, Derbyshire, DE22 County: Derbyshire Civil Parish: Mackworth Traditional County: Derbyshire Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Derbyshire Church of England Parish: Mackworth All Saints Church of England Diocese: Derby |
Coordinates
Latitude: 52.9362 / 52°56'10"N Longitude: -1.525 / 1°31'29"W OS Eastings: 432023 OS Northings: 337751 OS Grid: SK320377 Mapcode National: GBR P68.VT Mapcode Global: WHCFN.KG1C Plus Code: 9C4WWFPG+F2 |
2 December 2020 (19:08) - Firefighters rush to a chimney fire at a thatch property.
Andover firefighters rushed to the scene of a chimney fireat a thatched cottage on Wednesday night. The incident happened shortly after 7pm. Andover Fire Station said the incident was caused by fire from a woodburning stove. The family realised something was wrong when their smoke detector went off, allowing them to call for help in quick-time.
A spokesman for Andover Fire Station urged the public to get their smoke detectors tested to help avoid incidents like this happening in the future. A spokesman wrote: "This turned out to be from a woodburning fire. Crews dealt with the chimney fire using rods and chimney equipment. We also had Basingstoke Fire Station's aerial ladder platform appliance at the incident to provide access to the chimney. A 135ft ladder was also used to get access to the chimney. The family were alerted early on due to having smoke detection, have you tested your smoke detectors recently? Stay safe."
The identity of the cottage involved is not known at this time.
News Source: Andover Advertiser
A spokesman for Andover Fire Station urged the public to get their smoke detectors tested to help avoid incidents like this happening in the future. A spokesman wrote: "This turned out to be from a woodburning fire. Crews dealt with the chimney fire using rods and chimney equipment. We also had Basingstoke Fire Station's aerial ladder platform appliance at the incident to provide access to the chimney. A 135ft ladder was also used to get access to the chimney. The family were alerted early on due to having smoke detection, have you tested your smoke detectors recently? Stay safe."
The identity of the cottage involved is not known at this time.
News Source: Andover Advertiser
The roof of the thatched cottage was saved
1 December 2020 (18:55*) - Fire at day nursery next to St Mary's Church in Banbury
A day nursery in Oxfordshire that is located next to a Grade I listed church is on fire. Concerned passers-by shared horrifying photos of a building located next to St Mary's Church in Banbury up in flames. They show a property on Horse Fair, which is believed to be Smart Tots Day Nursery and Pre-School, up in flames.
According to a Facebook post by the Leamington Fire Station said: "Tonight, Leamington's crew are assisting our Thames Valley colleagues at a fire at 25 Horse Fair, Banbury. Fire is located on the third floor of a nursery and Banbury crews have requested our turntable ladder crew to assist with removing roof tiles and extinguishing parts of the building that cannot be reached from inside."
One worried resident Ysabelle Mason posted about the blaze on the Facebook group just before 7pm: "I have been stood across the road, they have been amazing. About eight fire trucks at the moment and two police vehicles." Another local Dawn Pickard said: "It is the nursery but the staff did a great job tonight getting all the kids out safely and without distress keeping them safe until we could collect them. Hats off to them, managing to do that calmly and safely is an impressive feat."
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service completed their investigation and the cause of fire has been ruled as an accidental ignition by an electrical source.
The building is Grade II listed, together with the attached building and built in the 18th century.
News Source: Banbury Cake
According to a Facebook post by the Leamington Fire Station said: "Tonight, Leamington's crew are assisting our Thames Valley colleagues at a fire at 25 Horse Fair, Banbury. Fire is located on the third floor of a nursery and Banbury crews have requested our turntable ladder crew to assist with removing roof tiles and extinguishing parts of the building that cannot be reached from inside."
One worried resident Ysabelle Mason posted about the blaze on the Facebook group just before 7pm: "I have been stood across the road, they have been amazing. About eight fire trucks at the moment and two police vehicles." Another local Dawn Pickard said: "It is the nursery but the staff did a great job tonight getting all the kids out safely and without distress keeping them safe until we could collect them. Hats off to them, managing to do that calmly and safely is an impressive feat."
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service completed their investigation and the cause of fire has been ruled as an accidental ignition by an electrical source.
The building is Grade II listed, together with the attached building and built in the 18th century.
News Source: Banbury Cake
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The fire service said the roof and loft of the three-storey building had been damaged
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Lloyd Wynne and Company
Listing Date: 9 April 1952 Last Amended: 14 February 1986 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1046947 English Heritage Legacy ID: 244382 Location: Banbury, Cherwell, Oxfordshire, OX16 County: Oxfordshire District: Cherwell Civil Parish: Banbury Built-Up Area: Banbury Traditional County: Oxfordshire Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Oxfordshire Church of England Parish: Banbury St Mary Church of England Diocese: Oxford |
Coordinates
Latitude: 52.061 / 52°3'39"N Longitude: -1.3397 / 1°20'22"W OS Eastings: 445364 OS Northings: 240498 OS Grid: SP453404 Mapcode National: GBR 7ST.Q47 Mapcode Global: VHCW7.QGLC Plus Code: 9C4W3M66+C4 |
1 December 2020 (14:30) - Emergency services rush to building fire in Hertford town centre
Emergency service are currently at the scene of a building fire in Hertford Town Centre. Fire crews rushed to the town centre around 2.30pm this afternoon to deal with the fire at a commercial premises on Old Cross road. Pictures from the scene show fire crews parked up in front of the hair salon Tom Ashley with smoke coming from the premises. Emergency services are at the scene and have closed one of the main roads throughout the town centre whilst they deal with the ongoing incident. It has not yet been confirmed that the fire is at the Tom Ashley hair salon but pictures show smoke coming from the door of the premises.
Fire engines from Hertford, Hoddesdon, Welwyn Garden City and Ware were sent to the scene. On arrival, firefighters evacuated the flats above the shop and tackled the fire. The fire was all out by 3:20pm, and crews stayed at the scene to damp down, ventilate smoke from the flats and investigate the cause of the fire. The fire is believed to have started accidentally.
The building was formerly The Old Ship Inn (closed 1974) and is Grade II listed and was built in the early 17th century. It lies within Hertford Conservation Area.
News Source: Hertfordshire Mercury / Herts Live
Fire engines from Hertford, Hoddesdon, Welwyn Garden City and Ware were sent to the scene. On arrival, firefighters evacuated the flats above the shop and tackled the fire. The fire was all out by 3:20pm, and crews stayed at the scene to damp down, ventilate smoke from the flats and investigate the cause of the fire. The fire is believed to have started accidentally.
The building was formerly The Old Ship Inn (closed 1974) and is Grade II listed and was built in the early 17th century. It lies within Hertford Conservation Area.
News Source: Hertfordshire Mercury / Herts Live
Emergency services are at the scene (Image: Steve Ash)
Listing Details
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Entry Name: 17, Old Cross
Listing Date: 12 April 1973 Last Amended: 9 September 1996 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1268829 English Heritage Legacy ID: 461418 Location: Hertford, East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, SG14 County: Hertfordshire District: East Hertfordshire Civil Parish: Hertford Built-Up Area: Hertford Traditional County: Hertfordshire Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Hertfordshire Church of England Parish: Hertford St Andrew with St Nicholas Church of England Diocese: St.Albans |
Coordinates
Latitude: 51.7973 / 51°47'50"N Longitude: -0.0808 / 0°4'50"W OS Eastings: 532445 OS Northings: 212707 OS Grid: TL324127 Mapcode National: GBR KBQ.BDH Mapcode Global: VHGPN.K350 Plus Code: 9C3XQWW9+WM |
Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection
Preventing Fire, Protecting Life, Preserving Heritage
Click HERE for Expert Specialist Fire Safety Risk Assessments for Historic and Listed Buildings
Preventing Fire, Protecting Life, Preserving Heritage
Click HERE for Expert Specialist Fire Safety Risk Assessments for Historic and Listed Buildings
Phone: 07840 351458 Email: hello@fireprotect.me.uk
November - 28 Fires & 4 Near Misses
29 November 2020 (20:10) - Blaze badly damages Wigston pub after chimney catches on fire
The Old Crown pub has been left badly damaged after a fire started in the pub's chimney. Fire crews were called the building in Moat Street, Wigston, at about 8.10pm last night and arrived to find the pub full of smoke. Firefighters in breathing tanks entered the building to put out the fire. As well as completely smoke-logging both floors of the pub, the fire destroyed the chimney stack on the ground floor of the detached, two-storey building. There was also further damage caused as the fire crews cut away part of the chimney to ensure the fire had not spread beyond the chimney.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were in attendance at a building in Moat Street last night after being called to a report of a chimney fire. The property was heavily smoke-logged. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus were in use to attack the fire. We extinguished the fire and cut away at the chimney breast to ensure there was no fire spread. There was severe damage to the chimney stack and severe smoke logging to the ground for and upper floor. The chimney breast was destoyed on the ground floor. There were no casualties."
One of Wigston Magna's very old inns, The Old Crown standing near All Saints' Church in Moat Street is first mentioned in Mute's Directory of 1846 with Charles Davenport as the landlord. It was built most probably around 1740 for the brick work is considered to be amongst the oldest in Wigston. With the exception of a modernised skittle alley, the buildings to the rear remain intact. It is included on Wigston Council Significant Building List.
News Source: Leicester Mercury / Leicestershire Live
A spokesman for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were in attendance at a building in Moat Street last night after being called to a report of a chimney fire. The property was heavily smoke-logged. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus were in use to attack the fire. We extinguished the fire and cut away at the chimney breast to ensure there was no fire spread. There was severe damage to the chimney stack and severe smoke logging to the ground for and upper floor. The chimney breast was destoyed on the ground floor. There were no casualties."
One of Wigston Magna's very old inns, The Old Crown standing near All Saints' Church in Moat Street is first mentioned in Mute's Directory of 1846 with Charles Davenport as the landlord. It was built most probably around 1740 for the brick work is considered to be amongst the oldest in Wigston. With the exception of a modernised skittle alley, the buildings to the rear remain intact. It is included on Wigston Council Significant Building List.
News Source: Leicester Mercury / Leicestershire Live
29 November 2020 (13:58) - Children seen clambering around Forfar bingo hall shortly before inferno
Youngsters were seen clambering around Forfar’s old Pavilion Bingo Hall in the lead to up the inferno which gutted the town centre building. As investigations continue into the cause of the ferocious blaze, the possibility it was sparked by young intruders is believed to be an early line of inquiry being pursued by detectives.
It followed an eight-hour operation the previous day after fire ripped through the building known locally as the Gaffie after breaking out minutes before 2pm on Sunday. Flames from the derelict building shot around 50 feet in the air and the huge pall of smoke could be seen from miles away. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent six appliances and other specialist resources to the scene after the alarm was raised at 1.58pm. Forfar town centre was immediately closed to traffic as crews battled the blaze from narrow Queen Street, which runs alongside the old building. Some local residents were evacuated from their homes during the operation.
A large crowd of onlookers gathered in Castle Street to watch the operation to bring the fire under control. The blaze completely gutted the property, which has been empty for almost 15 years. Crackling from the burning timbers was heard from more than three miles away and described as sounding like gunshots. Bulldozers are now expected to move in within days to tackle the structural damage.
The site’s owner said it was “miraculous” no-one had been injured, and surrounding properties in the narrow street escaped damage. Forfar businessman Bill Watson hailed the work of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews who were met with huge balls of flame bursting through the Pavilion roof. “They did an amazing job,” said Mr Watson, whose firm Albamuir owns the property. “In a town centre fire like that, it is the residents you are worried about. For no-one to be injured and to contain the damage to our building is miraculous.”
Local sources have said at least two youngsters were seen on top of the Queen Street wall surrounding the building shortly before. Mr Watson said it would not be appropriate to speculate on any possible cause at this stage, but confirmed children had previously broken into the old bingo hall. “We have had incidents, but not on a regular basis,” he said. “Once or twice I’ve brought it up with the police when we noticed the fencing was pulled aside, but it seemed to be something that happened more in the summer. It was secure and they had to pull down the fencing to get in.” He said contractors would be moving in to clear the site by the end of this week or the beginning of next.
One resident living directly opposite the bingo hall spoke of the ferocity with which the fire took hold. Beverley Stirling said: “I heard banging and looked out my window to see the flames and smoke coming from one end of the building. I spoke to my neighbour but wasn’t hanging about – I just left the house. It went through the roof and then just right through the building, from one end to the other. It was all really quick and it was well up when the fire crews arrived.” Another local said the thought they were hearing the sound of fireworks before witnessing the dramatic blaze.Queen Street residents were allowed back into their homes late on Sunday night. Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing. “Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting incident 1721 of 29 November 29,” said a spokesperson.
The Pavilion Cinema was opened prior to 1934. The main entrance was in Queen Street. There was also a subsidiary entrance through a narrow alley and courtyard off East High Street. The Pavilion Cinema had a 25 feet wide proscenium, a stage 25 feet deep and three dressing rooms. It was equipped with a Western Electric (WE) sound system. It was still open in 1966, but had closed by 1980, and had been converted into a bingo club. The bingo club closed in 2009.
News Source: The Courier
It followed an eight-hour operation the previous day after fire ripped through the building known locally as the Gaffie after breaking out minutes before 2pm on Sunday. Flames from the derelict building shot around 50 feet in the air and the huge pall of smoke could be seen from miles away. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent six appliances and other specialist resources to the scene after the alarm was raised at 1.58pm. Forfar town centre was immediately closed to traffic as crews battled the blaze from narrow Queen Street, which runs alongside the old building. Some local residents were evacuated from their homes during the operation.
A large crowd of onlookers gathered in Castle Street to watch the operation to bring the fire under control. The blaze completely gutted the property, which has been empty for almost 15 years. Crackling from the burning timbers was heard from more than three miles away and described as sounding like gunshots. Bulldozers are now expected to move in within days to tackle the structural damage.
The site’s owner said it was “miraculous” no-one had been injured, and surrounding properties in the narrow street escaped damage. Forfar businessman Bill Watson hailed the work of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service crews who were met with huge balls of flame bursting through the Pavilion roof. “They did an amazing job,” said Mr Watson, whose firm Albamuir owns the property. “In a town centre fire like that, it is the residents you are worried about. For no-one to be injured and to contain the damage to our building is miraculous.”
Local sources have said at least two youngsters were seen on top of the Queen Street wall surrounding the building shortly before. Mr Watson said it would not be appropriate to speculate on any possible cause at this stage, but confirmed children had previously broken into the old bingo hall. “We have had incidents, but not on a regular basis,” he said. “Once or twice I’ve brought it up with the police when we noticed the fencing was pulled aside, but it seemed to be something that happened more in the summer. It was secure and they had to pull down the fencing to get in.” He said contractors would be moving in to clear the site by the end of this week or the beginning of next.
One resident living directly opposite the bingo hall spoke of the ferocity with which the fire took hold. Beverley Stirling said: “I heard banging and looked out my window to see the flames and smoke coming from one end of the building. I spoke to my neighbour but wasn’t hanging about – I just left the house. It went through the roof and then just right through the building, from one end to the other. It was all really quick and it was well up when the fire crews arrived.” Another local said the thought they were hearing the sound of fireworks before witnessing the dramatic blaze.Queen Street residents were allowed back into their homes late on Sunday night. Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing. “Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting incident 1721 of 29 November 29,” said a spokesperson.
The Pavilion Cinema was opened prior to 1934. The main entrance was in Queen Street. There was also a subsidiary entrance through a narrow alley and courtyard off East High Street. The Pavilion Cinema had a 25 feet wide proscenium, a stage 25 feet deep and three dressing rooms. It was equipped with a Western Electric (WE) sound system. It was still open in 1966, but had closed by 1980, and had been converted into a bingo club. The bingo club closed in 2009.
News Source: The Courier
The blaze tore through the old bingo hall.
28 November 2020 (04:20) - Fire breaks out at Forest of Dean business park
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service have been tackling a fire on an industrial estate in the Forest of Dean this morning.The incident is at Stowfield Business Park in Lydbrook and has been ongoing since 4.20am.Two fire appliances from Coleford and a further two fire appliances from Cinderford were dispatched to the scene. It is believed that a large building on the business park estate is on fire and an aerial ladder platform is also in use to tackle the fire. Two large water carriers has also been dispatched to the incident, one from the Cheltenham fire and rescue service and a further one from Hereford and Worcester. Crews are expected to be at the site for most of the day.
UPDATE: A further fire appliance was brought in to assist extinguishing the fire at the Stowfield Business Park in Lydbrook this morning. This brings the total of appliances to five at the site along with water carriers and aerial ladder. The large scale fire was located at a very large furniture storage building which covers a broad area at the park. Despite needing a lot of crew power to bring the blaze under control, the team earlier this afternoon started scaling back the operation.Two fire appliances remain at the business park, while the others have returned back to depots. A water carrier and aerial platform ladder remain on the site.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Adam Openshaw said: " We would like to thank the local residents for keeping their doors and windows closed while we tackled a large scale fire at Stowfield Business Park.We are now checking that the area is safe before we leave the scene." No one is believed to have been hurt in the incident.
The site is the former Lydbrook Cable Works which was established in 1912.
News Source: Gloucestershire Live
UPDATE: A further fire appliance was brought in to assist extinguishing the fire at the Stowfield Business Park in Lydbrook this morning. This brings the total of appliances to five at the site along with water carriers and aerial ladder. The large scale fire was located at a very large furniture storage building which covers a broad area at the park. Despite needing a lot of crew power to bring the blaze under control, the team earlier this afternoon started scaling back the operation.Two fire appliances remain at the business park, while the others have returned back to depots. A water carrier and aerial platform ladder remain on the site.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Adam Openshaw said: " We would like to thank the local residents for keeping their doors and windows closed while we tackled a large scale fire at Stowfield Business Park.We are now checking that the area is safe before we leave the scene." No one is believed to have been hurt in the incident.
The site is the former Lydbrook Cable Works which was established in 1912.
News Source: Gloucestershire Live
Scene of the fire at Lydbrook Cable Works, (Image: Paul Nicholls)
Building History
(Researched by Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection)
Tucked away at Lydbrook in The Forest Of Dean lies an abandoned factory which hides an incredible history. H.J. Smith & Co.was established in 1910 as the Electric Wire & Cable Co. at the Trafalgar Works in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. In 1912 it moved into new premises on the other side of Stowfield Road near the River Wye and adjacent to the then Steam Railway Junction, to be known as the Lydbrook Cable Works.
When the first world war broke out in July of 1914 the Lydbrook cable works was still incomplete but it was one of only four in the country capable of producing braided electrical cables. The company was awarded numerous contracts by the ministry of war to produce Army D3 Telephone cables for the field telephone sets bound for the western front. To meet the massive increase in demand the company’s workforce rapidly grew from 40 to 650 including many female munitions workers who worked a double shift pattern for the duration of the war. The factory was completed in 1916 with the addition of a powerhouse and adjoining stores and factory building, by the end of the war in 1918 the company had produced over 15,000 miles of electrical cable.
With the end of the War, came a slump in business, and in 1920 the Official Receiver was brought in, ending Smith’s connection with the Factory. The factory was then acquired by the Edison Swan Electric Co. in 1925. Edison Swan had access to greater resources and the site quickly expanded further, making it the sprawling mass of different-aged buildings visible today and employing some 1200 people, producing Power Line Cables. It was well placed to help with the Second World War as it possessed one of only four machines for making lead alloy tube needed for P.L.U.T.O. – (Petroleum Lines Under The Ocean), which allowed fuel to be supplied to the Allied invasion force on the European continent from Britain. It closed down in 1965 with the loss of some 840 jobs.
The factory was taken over the following year by Reed Corrugated Cases Ltd., a manufacturer of boxes and other packaging materials, known from 1991 as SCA Packaging Ltd., and it employed 450 people in 1985 and 270 in 1993. Production ceased in 1994, and the site has slowly deteriorated since.
(Researched by Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection)
Tucked away at Lydbrook in The Forest Of Dean lies an abandoned factory which hides an incredible history. H.J. Smith & Co.was established in 1910 as the Electric Wire & Cable Co. at the Trafalgar Works in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. In 1912 it moved into new premises on the other side of Stowfield Road near the River Wye and adjacent to the then Steam Railway Junction, to be known as the Lydbrook Cable Works.
When the first world war broke out in July of 1914 the Lydbrook cable works was still incomplete but it was one of only four in the country capable of producing braided electrical cables. The company was awarded numerous contracts by the ministry of war to produce Army D3 Telephone cables for the field telephone sets bound for the western front. To meet the massive increase in demand the company’s workforce rapidly grew from 40 to 650 including many female munitions workers who worked a double shift pattern for the duration of the war. The factory was completed in 1916 with the addition of a powerhouse and adjoining stores and factory building, by the end of the war in 1918 the company had produced over 15,000 miles of electrical cable.
With the end of the War, came a slump in business, and in 1920 the Official Receiver was brought in, ending Smith’s connection with the Factory. The factory was then acquired by the Edison Swan Electric Co. in 1925. Edison Swan had access to greater resources and the site quickly expanded further, making it the sprawling mass of different-aged buildings visible today and employing some 1200 people, producing Power Line Cables. It was well placed to help with the Second World War as it possessed one of only four machines for making lead alloy tube needed for P.L.U.T.O. – (Petroleum Lines Under The Ocean), which allowed fuel to be supplied to the Allied invasion force on the European continent from Britain. It closed down in 1965 with the loss of some 840 jobs.
The factory was taken over the following year by Reed Corrugated Cases Ltd., a manufacturer of boxes and other packaging materials, known from 1991 as SCA Packaging Ltd., and it employed 450 people in 1985 and 270 in 1993. Production ceased in 1994, and the site has slowly deteriorated since.
28 November 2020 (01:05*) - Fire-ravaged hospital now 'epitaph' to community's fight to save it, say campaigners
A blaze that ripped through a former community hospital has brought discussions about its long-term future into sharp focus.Two engines and an aerial ladder platform from North Wales Fire & Rescue Service tackled the blaze at Flint Cottage Hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning. The fire, which began shortly after 1am, was declared over by 7.30am. Specialist officers later revisited the building on Cornist Road to investigate the cause. They have yet to release their findings but they reported 90% damage to the first and second floors of the semi-derelict building.
Built around 1910, Flint Cottage Hospital provided more than 100 years of service to the town before finally closing its doors in August 2013, despite angry protests and even a public referendum. The Flint Hospital Campaign (FHC) claimed it had repeatedly warned Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about the building’s lack of security. On the 7th May 2019, an arson attack caused minor damage to the building. Betsi has previously said the building was secured with shutters to protect it from damage or unauthorised entry. But FHC chair Mike Evans said the blaze had come as no great surprise to people living locally.
He said: “I am profoundly sad about what has happened. It’s likely the damage was caused by elements within our own community – the latest in a series of anti-social behaviour which, only a couple of nights ago, saw youths trying to set fire to a nearby play area." Mr Evans added: “For years we have been asking the health board to make the building more secure but we’ve been ignored. I myself have caught youngsters in the hospital.Without a roof, it now stands as an epitaph to the way Betsi has treated this community.The health board walked away from Flint and allowed the cottage hospital to fall into rack and ruin."
Despite his “disappointment and dismay”, Mr Evans said the campaign would now step up attempts to re-establish NHS beds in the town. Earlier this year, when the Covid crisis erupted, FHC approached Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn asking that the mothballed hospital be “fast-tracked” back into service to provide extra bed capacity. FHC said a 20-bed unit could be re-established at the site, adding that it was “ready to do whatever is required” to support the Covid response. However Mr Evans said local NHS provision was more important than the building in which it was housed. “Despite what’s happened, we are now more determined that ever to bring back NHS services to Flint," he said. “The cottage hospital building has a long history and it would be great if some of it could be incorporated into a new local NHS bed unit.”
This morning’s blaze was witnessed shortly before 6am by taxi driver Sharon Robbins as she drove past. She alerted her son Kyle, 18, who lives nearby and went to the scene to take photos. He said: "I can see the hospital from my house. The fire was pretty much out by then, though fire officers were spraying water on the building." Kyle, who works for an HGV agency, said he was sad to see the building looking blackened and forlorn. “It was such a good hospital in its day,” he said. “People were hoping it would re-open one day but I can’t see that happening now.
Since the cottage hospital closed, a new £5m community health centre has opened in the town which includes two GP surgeries and outpatient facilities. However concerns have been expressed about the condition of the hospital site amid claims copper piping and slate had been stripped from the building. Earlier this year, Flint town council wrote to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board seeking clarity on the building’s future.
News Source: Daily Post / North Wales Live
Built around 1910, Flint Cottage Hospital provided more than 100 years of service to the town before finally closing its doors in August 2013, despite angry protests and even a public referendum. The Flint Hospital Campaign (FHC) claimed it had repeatedly warned Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about the building’s lack of security. On the 7th May 2019, an arson attack caused minor damage to the building. Betsi has previously said the building was secured with shutters to protect it from damage or unauthorised entry. But FHC chair Mike Evans said the blaze had come as no great surprise to people living locally.
He said: “I am profoundly sad about what has happened. It’s likely the damage was caused by elements within our own community – the latest in a series of anti-social behaviour which, only a couple of nights ago, saw youths trying to set fire to a nearby play area." Mr Evans added: “For years we have been asking the health board to make the building more secure but we’ve been ignored. I myself have caught youngsters in the hospital.Without a roof, it now stands as an epitaph to the way Betsi has treated this community.The health board walked away from Flint and allowed the cottage hospital to fall into rack and ruin."
Despite his “disappointment and dismay”, Mr Evans said the campaign would now step up attempts to re-establish NHS beds in the town. Earlier this year, when the Covid crisis erupted, FHC approached Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn asking that the mothballed hospital be “fast-tracked” back into service to provide extra bed capacity. FHC said a 20-bed unit could be re-established at the site, adding that it was “ready to do whatever is required” to support the Covid response. However Mr Evans said local NHS provision was more important than the building in which it was housed. “Despite what’s happened, we are now more determined that ever to bring back NHS services to Flint," he said. “The cottage hospital building has a long history and it would be great if some of it could be incorporated into a new local NHS bed unit.”
This morning’s blaze was witnessed shortly before 6am by taxi driver Sharon Robbins as she drove past. She alerted her son Kyle, 18, who lives nearby and went to the scene to take photos. He said: "I can see the hospital from my house. The fire was pretty much out by then, though fire officers were spraying water on the building." Kyle, who works for an HGV agency, said he was sad to see the building looking blackened and forlorn. “It was such a good hospital in its day,” he said. “People were hoping it would re-open one day but I can’t see that happening now.
Since the cottage hospital closed, a new £5m community health centre has opened in the town which includes two GP surgeries and outpatient facilities. However concerns have been expressed about the condition of the hospital site amid claims copper piping and slate had been stripped from the building. Earlier this year, Flint town council wrote to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board seeking clarity on the building’s future.
News Source: Daily Post / North Wales Live
The scene this morning once the fire service had departed (Image: Hadyn Iball / North Wales Live)
Flint Cottage Hospital closed in 2013 after serving the town for more than 100 years.
27 November 2020 (23:00*) - Fire crew works through the night to tackle Skinburness house blaze
Fire crews worked through the night to extinguish a blaze at a house. At about 11pm last night (November 27), a team from Carlisle East Fire Station was called to a property fire at Skinburness, near Silloth. Once there, the crew found a large detached house had caught fire. An aerial ladder platform was used as a water tower to battle the flames, using a water relay from the sea to provide the water. The team also used lightweight portable pumps, ladders, main jets, hosereels, small tools and one set of breathing apparatus while tackling the blaze. After five hours of hard work, the fire was fully extinguished. The building was fortunately unoccupied, and nobody was hurt during the incident.
Dating from the early years of the 19th century, Marsh House is Grade II listed.
News Source: News and Star
Dating from the early years of the 19th century, Marsh House is Grade II listed.
News Source: News and Star
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Listing Details
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Entry Name: Marsh House
Listing Date: 19 November 1984 Grade: II Source: Historic England Source ID: 1289359 English Heritage Legacy ID: 71997 Location: Silloth-on-Solway, Allerdale, Cumbria, CA7 County: Cumbria District: Allerdale Civil Parish: Silloth-on-Solway Built-Up Area: Silloth Traditional County: Cumberland Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Cumbria Church of England Parish: Silloth Christ Church Church of England Diocese: Carlisle |
Coordinates
Latitude: 54.8905 / 54°53'25"N Longitude: -3.3608 / 3°21'38"W OS Eastings: 312814 OS Northings: 555930 OS Grid: NY128559 Mapcode National: GBR 4CZW.6P Mapcode Global: WH6YR.BBWQ Plus Code: 9C6RVJRQ+5M |
22 November 2020 (13:15*) - Firefighters deal with blaze at McVitie's factory in Carlisle
Firefighters have been dealing with a fire at McVitie's in Carlisle. Crews from Carlisle's East and West fire stations were mobilised to the factory in Church Street at about 1.15pm. Adrian Dargue, watch manager at Carlisle East, said the fire was contained in an 80-metre long industrial oven, on the production line that makes Bourbon Creams. Firefighters quickly isolated the gas and electric supplies and four carbon dioxide extinguishers were used, along with a hose reel jet, to put out the blaze. Mr Dargue said temperatures in the oven would have been in excess of 500 C. Crews were at the scene for three-and-a-half hours.
Although now known as the McVities Factory, it is still known locally as the Carr’s Factory and is the oldest continually-operating biscuit factory in the world, dating from 1837.
News Source: News and Star
Although now known as the McVities Factory, it is still known locally as the Carr’s Factory and is the oldest continually-operating biscuit factory in the world, dating from 1837.
News Source: News and Star
Firefighters deal with blaze at McVitie's factory
Building History
(Researched by Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection)
In 1831, Jonathan Dodgson Carr formed a small bakery and biscuit factory in the city of Carlisle; he received a royal warrant in 1841. A committed Quaker, Carr was a gentle, kind and modest man. An enlightened employer, he had established a library for his workforce by 1841. He was at this point the sole manufacturer of machine-made biscuits in the United Kingdom. At this stage only four varieties of biscuit were produced. The Royal Warrant was to prove a boon to sales, and 400 tons of biscuits were produced in 1846, with a staff of 90. Within fifteen years of being founded, it was the largest baking business in Britain. His business was both a mill and a bakery, an early example of vertical integration, and he produced bread by night and biscuits by day. The biscuits were loosely based on dry biscuits used on long voyages by sailors.They could be kept crisp and fresh in tins, and despite their fragility could easily be transported to other parts of the country by canal and railway.
Jonathan Carr protested against the Corn Laws, which imposed steep tariffs on imported wheat, keeping the price of British wheat artificially high. This meant that bread was expensive, even in times of famine.Carr died in 1884, but by 1885, the company made 128 varieties of biscuit and employed 1000 workers. By 1891, nearly 300 different varieties of biscuit were produced. 18,000 Derby biscuits could be produced in one hour. 200,000 Midget biscuits could be cut in an hour.
In 1894 the company was registered as Carr and Co. Ltd. but reverted to a private company in 1908, and Carrs Flour Mills Limited was incorporated after acquiring the flour milling assets. By 1919 there were 4,000 people working at the factory. Jonathan's four sons were less skilled at managing the business, but biscuit production remained in the family until 1931. Carr & Co granted its workers a five day working week from 1934, and hours were reduced from 47 to 45 with no reduction in pay. The factory produced 4,500 tons of biscuits a year by 1939, and was one of the largest biscuit manufacturers in Britain. The biscuit factory was one of the largest in the world.
It later became part of Cavenham Foods until 1971 when it came under the ownership of McVitie's, part of the United Biscuits group. United Biscuits was sold by its private equity owners to the Turkish based multinational Yıldız Holding in 2014, in 2016 all UB brands including Carr’s were combined with Yildiz’s other snack brands to form Pladis Global. The Carlisle factory employed over 600 people in 2016. Today it produces McVitie’s Ginger Nuts, Crawford’s Custard Creams and Bourbons, Carr’s Water Biscuits and more. A statue of two ‘cracker packers’ was unveiled in Carlisle in March 2018 in honour of this ‘biscuit history’. It is the oldest continually-operating biscuit factory in the world.
(Researched by Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection)
In 1831, Jonathan Dodgson Carr formed a small bakery and biscuit factory in the city of Carlisle; he received a royal warrant in 1841. A committed Quaker, Carr was a gentle, kind and modest man. An enlightened employer, he had established a library for his workforce by 1841. He was at this point the sole manufacturer of machine-made biscuits in the United Kingdom. At this stage only four varieties of biscuit were produced. The Royal Warrant was to prove a boon to sales, and 400 tons of biscuits were produced in 1846, with a staff of 90. Within fifteen years of being founded, it was the largest baking business in Britain. His business was both a mill and a bakery, an early example of vertical integration, and he produced bread by night and biscuits by day. The biscuits were loosely based on dry biscuits used on long voyages by sailors.They could be kept crisp and fresh in tins, and despite their fragility could easily be transported to other parts of the country by canal and railway.
Jonathan Carr protested against the Corn Laws, which imposed steep tariffs on imported wheat, keeping the price of British wheat artificially high. This meant that bread was expensive, even in times of famine.Carr died in 1884, but by 1885, the company made 128 varieties of biscuit and employed 1000 workers. By 1891, nearly 300 different varieties of biscuit were produced. 18,000 Derby biscuits could be produced in one hour. 200,000 Midget biscuits could be cut in an hour.
In 1894 the company was registered as Carr and Co. Ltd. but reverted to a private company in 1908, and Carrs Flour Mills Limited was incorporated after acquiring the flour milling assets. By 1919 there were 4,000 people working at the factory. Jonathan's four sons were less skilled at managing the business, but biscuit production remained in the family until 1931. Carr & Co granted its workers a five day working week from 1934, and hours were reduced from 47 to 45 with no reduction in pay. The factory produced 4,500 tons of biscuits a year by 1939, and was one of the largest biscuit manufacturers in Britain. The biscuit factory was one of the largest in the world.
It later became part of Cavenham Foods until 1971 when it came under the ownership of McVitie's, part of the United Biscuits group. United Biscuits was sold by its private equity owners to the Turkish based multinational Yıldız Holding in 2014, in 2016 all UB brands including Carr’s were combined with Yildiz’s other snack brands to form Pladis Global. The Carlisle factory employed over 600 people in 2016. Today it produces McVitie’s Ginger Nuts, Crawford’s Custard Creams and Bourbons, Carr’s Water Biscuits and more. A statue of two ‘cracker packers’ was unveiled in Carlisle in March 2018 in honour of this ‘biscuit history’. It is the oldest continually-operating biscuit factory in the world.
21 November 2020 (15:03) - Firefighters tackling blaze at derelict former school
Fire crews are battling a blaze at a derelict historic former school on the edge of Norwich. Shortly after 3pm on Saturday, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to the former Langley Preparatory School site at Beech Hill off Yarmouth Road in Thorpe St Andrew. At its peak, crews from Carrow, Earlham, Sprowston and Hethersett were all in attendance, with a drone also being used to provide an overview of the site. A spokesman from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said that the call came in at 3.03pm and that the building’s dereliction had meant parts of the building were inaccessible to the crews, who are fighting the blaze from outside.
The 19th century school building has been vacant since 2010, when the school moved to Thorpe House before merging with Taverham Hall School six years later. On the 3rd June 2018, it was subject to a suspected arson attack, which saw fire tear through the site. However, police closed an investigation into the incident without any charges made. In the aftermath of the blaze, a spokesman for Thorpe St Andrew Town Council said the incident was “entirely foreseeable”, with ongoing concern about the vacant site. The cause of the latest blaze is not clear, with firefighters still battling to tackle it, with crews still on scene as of 5.45pm. As of 6.45pm, the number of crews had been scaled back to two, but a fire service spokesman said they would remain on scene into the evening “for the foreseeable”.
Beech Hill building was believed to have been built in the mid 19th century and was then called Bellview. Between 1880 and 1895 it served as the home of Hugh Gurney Barclay, and was later purchased by George Morse around 1896. It was during that time that the property changed its name from Bellvue to Beech Hill. He said there is record of Mr Morse entertaining the then Conservative prime minister Stanley Baldwin and his wife at Beech Hill house in the 1920s. Mr Morse lived there until 1931 when he died. He was said to be a very generous benefactor to Thorpe St Andrew. A park off Laundry Lane features the George Morse Pavilion. The house became a preparatory school after the Second World War.
News Source: EDP24
The 19th century school building has been vacant since 2010, when the school moved to Thorpe House before merging with Taverham Hall School six years later. On the 3rd June 2018, it was subject to a suspected arson attack, which saw fire tear through the site. However, police closed an investigation into the incident without any charges made. In the aftermath of the blaze, a spokesman for Thorpe St Andrew Town Council said the incident was “entirely foreseeable”, with ongoing concern about the vacant site. The cause of the latest blaze is not clear, with firefighters still battling to tackle it, with crews still on scene as of 5.45pm. As of 6.45pm, the number of crews had been scaled back to two, but a fire service spokesman said they would remain on scene into the evening “for the foreseeable”.
Beech Hill building was believed to have been built in the mid 19th century and was then called Bellview. Between 1880 and 1895 it served as the home of Hugh Gurney Barclay, and was later purchased by George Morse around 1896. It was during that time that the property changed its name from Bellvue to Beech Hill. He said there is record of Mr Morse entertaining the then Conservative prime minister Stanley Baldwin and his wife at Beech Hill house in the 1920s. Mr Morse lived there until 1931 when he died. He was said to be a very generous benefactor to Thorpe St Andrew. A park off Laundry Lane features the George Morse Pavilion. The house became a preparatory school after the Second World War.
News Source: EDP24
Firefighters are tackling a blaze at the former Langley Preparatory School site in Thorpe St Andrew, photographed following a previous blaze in 2018. Picture: Dominic Gilbert
21 November 2020 (14:40) - Fire breaks out at former Conservative club in Tipton
A fire broke out at a former Conservative club in the Black Country. Fire crews were alerted to the blaze, at Tipton Conservative and Unionist Club, at 2.40pm on Friday. The fire was contained to one room while the building sustained smoke damage, said West Midlands Fire Service [WMFS]. It comes after a cannabis factory, worth an estimated £1,000,000, was found there in June. A spokesman for WMFS said: "We had a call at 2.40pm to a disused club on fire in the front room of the conservative club. There was smoke damage to parts of the building."
The owner of the building was contacted following the blaze. It is unclear how the fire began. A total of 18 firefighters attended the scene. Tipton Green councillor Ian Jones said: "It is very worrying that the building is in an area that hasn't been developed. I understand the reasons why because of the financial difficulties that developers face. As a result, it leaves buildings exposed to these types of things and people are rightly worried." Plans were submitted last year to convert the building into 14 flats.
Tipton Conservative & Unionist Club on Union Street was a fixture of the town for more than a century before closing in 2016. During its heyday it had around 3,000 members and hosted some of the Tory party's big names, including former leader William Hague, ex Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine and Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell. The building started life as the Union Flour Mill in 1840, before becoming a Conservative club in 1909.
News Source: Express and Star
The owner of the building was contacted following the blaze. It is unclear how the fire began. A total of 18 firefighters attended the scene. Tipton Green councillor Ian Jones said: "It is very worrying that the building is in an area that hasn't been developed. I understand the reasons why because of the financial difficulties that developers face. As a result, it leaves buildings exposed to these types of things and people are rightly worried." Plans were submitted last year to convert the building into 14 flats.
Tipton Conservative & Unionist Club on Union Street was a fixture of the town for more than a century before closing in 2016. During its heyday it had around 3,000 members and hosted some of the Tory party's big names, including former leader William Hague, ex Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine and Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell. The building started life as the Union Flour Mill in 1840, before becoming a Conservative club in 1909.
News Source: Express and Star
Fire breaks out at former Conservative club. Photo: Spotted Tipton
20 November 2020 (23:31) - Car on fire outside Newton Aycliffe pub
Fire crews attended a Newton Aycliffe pub, after a car was on fire last night. Durham Fire Service confirmed that one fire crew had attended the scene where a car was on fire outside of The Iron Horse pub in Newton Aycliffe. The fire service was called at 11.31pm yesterday (Friday). It has been reported the pub was damaged and the car had extensive damage. The ambulance service were not called and there were no casualties.
The Great Aycliffe Heritage and Character Assessment says, "The Iron Horse is not a listed building but is notable as it is a post-war public house built specifically for the community. The large and spacious building harks back to an early period. Post war pubs are a severely threatened building type, with many being converted to other uses or demolished altogether. The Iron Horse has group value with the row of shops at Simpasture Gate."
News Source: The Northern Echo
The Great Aycliffe Heritage and Character Assessment says, "The Iron Horse is not a listed building but is notable as it is a post-war public house built specifically for the community. The large and spacious building harks back to an early period. Post war pubs are a severely threatened building type, with many being converted to other uses or demolished altogether. The Iron Horse has group value with the row of shops at Simpasture Gate."
News Source: The Northern Echo
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Near Miss
19 November 2020 (15:25*) - 'Explosion sound' as fire breaks out at East Winch
19 November 2020 (15:25*) - 'Explosion sound' as fire breaks out at East Winch
A large building fire in a West Norfolk village caused the A47 to be closed this afternoon. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service received a call just before 3.30pm to attend to the fire at East Winch. The fire took place in an outbuilding on Lynn Road with four crews from North and South Lynn attending, arriving on scene from 3.39pm.
Thick smoke could be seen billowing across the A47 with large queues building up in both directions due to the closure. The road was reopened just before 4.45pm. A spokesman for the fire service said: "Reported sounds of bangs or explosion will be from cannisters in the outbuilding." The ambulance and police also attended the scene. A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: "We were contacted by fire about this one at 3.42pm. The A47 was closed as a result of smoke spreading on the road and it was reopened at 4.41pm." There is no indication the fire was arson with police saying it appears to be accidental.
The fire was in the garden of a large house called “Maids Head”, a continuation of its name when it was a public house between at least 1789 and 1969. Freebridge-Lynn Licence Registers show that John Wallington was the Innkeeper between the 7th September 1789 and the 8th September 1794
News Source: Lynn News
Thick smoke could be seen billowing across the A47 with large queues building up in both directions due to the closure. The road was reopened just before 4.45pm. A spokesman for the fire service said: "Reported sounds of bangs or explosion will be from cannisters in the outbuilding." The ambulance and police also attended the scene. A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: "We were contacted by fire about this one at 3.42pm. The A47 was closed as a result of smoke spreading on the road and it was reopened at 4.41pm." There is no indication the fire was arson with police saying it appears to be accidental.
The fire was in the garden of a large house called “Maids Head”, a continuation of its name when it was a public house between at least 1789 and 1969. Freebridge-Lynn Licence Registers show that John Wallington was the Innkeeper between the 7th September 1789 and the 8th September 1794
News Source: Lynn News
The fire at East Winch this afternoon (Picture: Sue Uttley)
Fire engines on the scene of the fire just off the A47 at East Winch. (Picture: Michael Fysh)
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(Credit: Google)
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18 November 2020 (19:30*) - Edinburgh man jailed for breaking into historic mansion and setting fire to the kitchen to keep warm
A homeless man who broke into a historic 200-year-old mansion house and set fire to the kitchen to keep warm has been jailed. Kenneth Coleman smashed a window and gained entry to the A-listed Dalmeny House before lighting the fire within the property’s Courtyard Room. He then left the fire burning before breaking into the mansion’s boiler house - owned by Lady Jane Kaplan and her husband Michael - where he settled down for the night.
The 45-year-old was found sleeping in the boiler area after Police Scotland and the fire service were called out to attend to the blaze in November. Coleman appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court where he was jailed for six months after admitting charges of housebreaking and wilfully setting the fire.
Fiscal Heather Naismith told the court a fire alarm at Dalmeny House, near South Queensferry, went off at around 7.30pm on November 18 this year. Firefighters attended and discovered a small fire within the kitchen area and a box of matches was found nearby. Police searched the property and Coleman, whose last address was given as Dundee, was subsequently found fast asleep within the nearby boiler room. He was arrested and told officers: “No comment - it wasn’t me.”
Coleman pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to the kitchen area and causing damage at the Courtyard Room at Dalmeny House, Dalmeny Estate, South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, on November 18 this year. He also admitted to breaking into the boiler shed owned by Michael and Jane Kaplan at Dalmeny House with intent to steal on the same date. Solicitor Jonathan Campbell, defending, said his client had been wandering through the grounds of Dalmeny Estate that night “looking for somewhere to sleep”. Mr Campbell said: “He was cold, wet and had nowhere to stay. He presumably lit the fire for warmth.” The brief added Coleman had “difficulties with substance misuse” and there had been “relatively minor damage” caused by the fire. Sheriff John Mundy said: “In light of your previous offending a custodial sentence is inevitable.” Coleman was sentenced to six months in prison.
Dalmeny House is a gothic revival mansion completed in 1817 and is protected as a Category A listed building while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and designed Landscapes in Scotland.
News Source: Edinburgh Live (From article published 3 December 2020)
The 45-year-old was found sleeping in the boiler area after Police Scotland and the fire service were called out to attend to the blaze in November. Coleman appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court where he was jailed for six months after admitting charges of housebreaking and wilfully setting the fire.
Fiscal Heather Naismith told the court a fire alarm at Dalmeny House, near South Queensferry, went off at around 7.30pm on November 18 this year. Firefighters attended and discovered a small fire within the kitchen area and a box of matches was found nearby. Police searched the property and Coleman, whose last address was given as Dundee, was subsequently found fast asleep within the nearby boiler room. He was arrested and told officers: “No comment - it wasn’t me.”
Coleman pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to the kitchen area and causing damage at the Courtyard Room at Dalmeny House, Dalmeny Estate, South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, on November 18 this year. He also admitted to breaking into the boiler shed owned by Michael and Jane Kaplan at Dalmeny House with intent to steal on the same date. Solicitor Jonathan Campbell, defending, said his client had been wandering through the grounds of Dalmeny Estate that night “looking for somewhere to sleep”. Mr Campbell said: “He was cold, wet and had nowhere to stay. He presumably lit the fire for warmth.” The brief added Coleman had “difficulties with substance misuse” and there had been “relatively minor damage” caused by the fire. Sheriff John Mundy said: “In light of your previous offending a custodial sentence is inevitable.” Coleman was sentenced to six months in prison.
Dalmeny House is a gothic revival mansion completed in 1817 and is protected as a Category A listed building while the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and designed Landscapes in Scotland.
News Source: Edinburgh Live (From article published 3 December 2020)
Listing Details
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Entry Name: Dalmeny House, Edinburgh
Listing Name: Dalmeny House, Including Terrace, Garden Walls, Railings, Gates and Gatepiers Listing Date: 22 February 1971 Category: A Source: Historic Scotland Source ID: 330277 Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB82 Building Class: Cultural Location: Edinburgh County: Edinburgh Town: Edinburgh Electoral Ward: Almond Traditional County: West Lothian |
Coordinates
Latitude: 55.9882 / 55°59'17"N Longitude: -3.3346 / 3°20'4"W OS Eastings: 316838 OS Northings: 678051 OS Grid: NT168780 Mapcode National: GBR 23.VLV3 Mapcode Global: WH6SB.RR97 Plus Code: 9C7RXMQ8+75 |
Building History
(Researched by Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection)
Dalmeny House forms a historic group with Barnbougle Castle, Barnbougle Gate Lodge, Dalmeny House Boundary Wall, Chapel Gate Lodge, East Craigie Farmhouse, East Craigie Gate Lodge, Edinburgh Gate Lodge, Dalmeny House Gardener?s Cottage, Dalmeny House Home Farm, Dalmeny House Home Farm Laundry, Leuchold, Leuchold Gate Lodge, Longcraig Gate Lodge, 1, 2, 3 and 4 Long Green, Newhalls Gate Lodge, Dalmeny House Stable Block and Dalmeny House Walled Garden.
The Moubray or Mowbray family, who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, became the lords of Barnbougle, Dalmeny and Inverkeithing, and sold the estate in 1615 to Sir Thomas Hamilton. His grandson sold the estate to Sir Archibald Primrose of Carrington, later the Lord Justice General of Scotland. His eldest son by his second marriage, Archibald, was created Earl of Rosebery in 1703, and his family lived at Barnbougle Castle until the early 19th century, when it was decided to build another property, after the extent of the neglect of the house was such that a wave reputedly washed into the dining room while the family were at supper.
The son of the 4th Earl had Dalmeny house built in 1817, three years after commissioning William Wilkins and Jeffry Wyatt to submit plans. Wilkins? original plan was for a neo-classical house, while Wyatt?s was Tudor Gothic, but Rosebery wanted to employ the latter architect, a former associate from Cambridge, and thus asked him to submit a Tudor Gothic plan, which was accepted. The design of Dalmeny, although including some classical symmetry, was based on East Barsham Manor, a Tudor mansion in Norfolk, built by Sir Henry Fermor, circa 1520. The Coade stone ornamentation at Dalmeny was second only to Buckingham Palace as a domestic order from the Coade factory, with over 300 cases of Coade stone being shipped to Leith over 3 years. The hammerbeam ceiling in the main hall is similar to Wilkin's later ceiling in the Hall of King's College, Cambridge. The W block contained a dairy and servants bedrooms on the 1st floor, as well as a lamp house, an oast-house and joiners shop.
(Researched by Heritage & Ecclesiastical Fire Protection)
Dalmeny House forms a historic group with Barnbougle Castle, Barnbougle Gate Lodge, Dalmeny House Boundary Wall, Chapel Gate Lodge, East Craigie Farmhouse, East Craigie Gate Lodge, Edinburgh Gate Lodge, Dalmeny House Gardener?s Cottage, Dalmeny House Home Farm, Dalmeny House Home Farm Laundry, Leuchold, Leuchold Gate Lodge, Longcraig Gate Lodge, 1, 2, 3 and 4 Long Green, Newhalls Gate Lodge, Dalmeny House Stable Block and Dalmeny House Walled Garden.
The Moubray or Mowbray family, who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, became the lords of Barnbougle, Dalmeny and Inverkeithing, and sold the estate in 1615 to Sir Thomas Hamilton. His grandson sold the estate to Sir Archibald Primrose of Carrington, later the Lord Justice General of Scotland. His eldest son by his second marriage, Archibald, was created Earl of Rosebery in 1703, and his family lived at Barnbougle Castle until the early 19th century, when it was decided to build another property, after the extent of the neglect of the house was such that a wave reputedly washed into the dining room while the family were at supper.
The son of the 4th Earl had Dalmeny house built in 1817, three years after commissioning William Wilkins and Jeffry Wyatt to submit plans. Wilkins? original plan was for a neo-classical house, while Wyatt?s was Tudor Gothic, but Rosebery wanted to employ the latter architect, a former associate from Cambridge, and thus asked him to submit a Tudor Gothic plan, which was accepted. The design of Dalmeny, although including some classical symmetry, was based on East Barsham Manor, a Tudor mansion in Norfolk, built by Sir Henry Fermor, circa 1520. The Coade stone ornamentation at Dalmeny was second only to Buckingham Palace as a domestic order from the Coade factory, with over 300 cases of Coade stone being shipped to Leith over 3 years. The hammerbeam ceiling in the main hall is similar to Wilkin's later ceiling in the Hall of King's College, Cambridge. The W block contained a dairy and servants bedrooms on the 1st floor, as well as a lamp house, an oast-house and joiners shop.