Scores of firefighters tackle blaze at historic country mansion

A fire at a 19th century Gothic-style mansion has destroyed almost three-quarters of its roof and caused damage to much of the inside of the property.
Fire crews remain at Alston Hall, near Preston, Lancashire, where they were called to a blaze at 10.40pm on Wednesday.Seventy-five firefighters tackled the blaze at the Grade II-listed house overnight and water from a nearby pond was used to put out the flames.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman Richard Edney said four fire engines were at the scene on Thursday morning.
He said: “At least 60-70% of the roof has been destroyed and that’s obviously then affected the third and second floors of the building and some parts of the first floor. We have managed to save the chapel, which is attached to the building, and the fire hasn’t spread to that.”Mr Edney said the damage to the three-storey building could not be properly assessed until it was safe for firefighters to enter the property.
He said crews were still tackling small pockets of fire within the building.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to start later on Thursday.
Ten fire engines were originally called to tackle the blaze and two aerial ladder platforms were used to pour water into the house, after the collapse of parts of the roof.Mr Edney said: “There have been no injuries apart from one person suffering a minor ankle injury. There were people at the site when we were called and before we turned up one person had slipped in a panic trying to get out the property.”
Alston Hall, designed by architect Alfred Darbyshire, was built between 1874-76 for colliery owner John Mercer.
It remained a family home until 1949 when the hall was sold to Preston Borough Council for use as a Day Continuation College.
In 1974, the hall was bought by Lancashire County Council who converted it to a residential training centre but it was sold last year.
The house had a “little-altered appearance and interior” with “historic joinery, plasterwork, fireplaces and light fittings throughout”, according to a Historic England listing which described the property as “highly decorative”.
It is thought that the hall was being converted into a family home by its new owner, a local businessman, when the blaze broke out.