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Exeter fire threatens one of Britain's oldest hotels Exeter fire threatens one of Britain's oldest hotels
(35 minutes later)
Firefighters are battling to save what is believed to be one of Britain’s oldest hotels, which is being threatened by an out-of-control fire that has already destroyed neighbouring buildings. Firefighters were on Friday battling to save what is believed to be one of Britain’s oldest hotels, which was threatened by an out-of-control fire that had already destroyed neighbouring buildings.
Around 120 firefighters are at the scene in central Exeter, Devon, trying to stop the blaze from spreading through the timber-framed Royal Clarence hotel, the roof of which has already been destroyed. About 120 firefighters were at the scene in central Exeter, Devon, trying to stop the blaze from spreading through the timber-framed Royal Clarence hotel, the roof of which had already been destroyed.
Reserve firefighters are among those who have been mobilised to work the 27 pumps, four aerial ladder platforms and high-volume pump deployed so far to try to put out the flames. Reserve firefighters were among those mobilised to operate the 27 regular pumps and a high-volume pump, with four aerial ladder platforms also deployed.
Fire is ongoing at Royal Clarence Hotel in #Exeter. About 120 firefighters are dealing with the challenging fire https://t.co/shi9omHUil pic.twitter.com/vFwPPb85N1Fire is ongoing at Royal Clarence Hotel in #Exeter. About 120 firefighters are dealing with the challenging fire https://t.co/shi9omHUil pic.twitter.com/vFwPPb85N1
The spokesman, who is at the scene, said: “It started in a building called the Gallery, opposite the cathedral. That has been completely destroyed, but the fire has spread across the roof void to the roof of the Royal Clarence hotel, which is quite an old, famous landmark in Exeter. The roof has been basically destroyed by fire. A fire brigade spokesman said on Friday: “It started in a building called the Gallery, opposite the cathedral.
“Because of the complex structure of the old buildings here, we haven’t been able to put firefighters on the inside, so we’re fighting it from the outside. We’ve got the aerial ladder platforms so we are pouring water on top of it. We are trying to contain it, but there are signs now of damage to the bedroom floors of the hotel.” “That has been completely destroyed, but the fire has spread across the roof void to the roof of the Royal Clarence hotel, which is quite an old, famous landmark in Exeter. The roof has been basically destroyed by fire.
Efforts to fight the fire have been consuming much of Exeter’s water supply. South West Water told customers in the city centre that it had been forced to make alterations to its mains network to support the fire service. “Because of the complex structure of the old buildings here, we haven’t been able to put firefighters on the inside, so we’re fighting it from the outside.
“As a result some customers in the city centre, and potentially in the Wonford area, may experience low pressure or discoloration of their water supply. The Royal Devon and Exeter and Nuffield hospitals will not be affected,” a statement from the company said. “We’ve got the aerial ladder platforms so we are pouring water on top of it. We are trying to contain it, but there are signs now of damage to the bedroom floors of the hotel.”
The fire began just after 5am. By the afternoon, large crowds had gathered at police cordons surrounding Cathedral Green, the fire service spokesman said. Efforts to fight the fire were consuming much of Exeter’s water supply. South West Water told customers in the city centre it had been forced to make alterations to its mains network to support the fire service.
“As a result, some customers in the city centre, and potentially in the Wonford area, may experience low pressure or discolouration of their water supply,” the company said in a statement. “The Royal Devon and Exeter and Nuffield hospitals will not be affected.”
The fire began just after 5am. By Friday afternoon, large crowds had gathered at police cordons surrounding Cathedral Green, the fire service spokesman said.
“There is a large amount of smoke coming off the building,” he said. “It’s right in the centre of Exeter, so it’s getting a lot of attention from people watching what’s happening.”“There is a large amount of smoke coming off the building,” he said. “It’s right in the centre of Exeter, so it’s getting a lot of attention from people watching what’s happening.”
Concealed voids and passageways within burning buildings, as well as their timber construction, were making the fire difficult to deal with. However, there have been no injuries and everyone believed to have been in the buildings has been accounted for, according to Devon and Cornwall police. Concealed voids and passageways within burning buildings, as well as their timber construction, were making the fire difficult to deal with, he said.
However, there have been no injuries and everyone believed to have been in the buildings has been accounted for, according to Devon and Cornwall police.
The beautiful Clarence Hotel may not survive this one #exeter #fire pic.twitter.com/XRSBQPkt1RThe beautiful Clarence Hotel may not survive this one #exeter #fire pic.twitter.com/XRSBQPkt1R
Local historian Dr Todd Gray told the BBC that the buildings under threat and those already destroyed were “hugely significant for Exeter”.Local historian Dr Todd Gray told the BBC that the buildings under threat and those already destroyed were “hugely significant for Exeter”.
Describing the Royal Clarence hotel, he said: “It’s the building where they first declared themselves as a hotel. Before that we had inns, but they took the new French word and applied it to their building. This was the place to stay.” Describing the Royal Clarence hotel, he said: “It’s the building where they first declared themselves as a hotel. Before that happened [in the 1770s], we had inns, but they took the new French word and applied it to their building. This was the place to stay.”
He added: “The Royal Clarence is in the heart of what was not just the medieval city but within the precincts of Roman Exeter. The hotel was built in 1769 as the Assembly Rooms, and renamed as the Royal Clarence in 1827 after a visit by Adelaide, Duchess of Clarence. The duchess was queen consort of King William IV – the monarch succeeded on the British throne by Queen Victoria in 1837.
“For 2,000 years this area has been the focus of the city’s religious and commercial life. Gray added: “The Royal Clarence is in the heart of what was not just the medieval city but within the precincts of Roman Exeter.
“For 2,000 years this area has been the focus of the city’s religious and commercial life.”
The ground and first floors of the hotel are medieval and the upper floors were added in the late 1700s when the building was renamed a hotel.The ground and first floors of the hotel are medieval and the upper floors were added in the late 1700s when the building was renamed a hotel.
“What is so particularly heartbreaking about this loss is that these buildings escaped the Blitz of 1942 when so much of Exeter was destroyed. “It has been long known as the first inn in England to rebrand itself in this way,” Gray said.
“What is so particularly heartbreaking about this loss is that these buildings escaped the blitz of 1942 when so much of Exeter was destroyed.
“We have so little left and, hopefully, the fire will be contained and not spread further.”“We have so little left and, hopefully, the fire will be contained and not spread further.”
Police have closed roads at the junctions of High Street and South Street, of South Street and the Cathedral Green, on Queen Street at the rear end of Tesco, on North Street at the Iron Bridge end, on Musgrave Road and on Bedford Square at the junction with High Street. Police had closed roads at the junctions of High Street and South Street, of South Street and the Cathedral Green, on Queen Street at the rear end of Tesco, on North Street at the Iron Bridge end, on Musgrave Road and on Bedford Square at the junction with High Street.
The cause of the fire is not believed to be suspicious.The cause of the fire is not believed to be suspicious.