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Hickling Hall fire: Grade II-listed building destroyed Hickling Hall fire: Grade II-listed home destroyed
(about 1 hour later)
A Grade II-listed building in Norfolk has been destroyed in a fire. A Grade II-listed home in Norfolk has been destroyed in a suspected chimney fire.
Dozens of firefighters from across Norfolk were called to Hickling Hall, Hickling, at about 19:50 GMT on Friday. Dozens of firefighters from across Norfolk were called to Hickling Hall, Hickling, at about 19:50 GMT on Boxing Day.
Norfolk Fire Service said the three-floor hall, situated on a farm, was "fully involved" in the fire. Norfolk Fire Service said the three-floor hall on farmland was gutted.
Roy Harrold, Norfolk's deputy chief fire officer, said: "With the nature of a building fire this intense, it's difficult to get back inside safely." A fire investigation is now under way. Roy Harrold, Norfolk's deputy chief fire officer, said: "With the nature of a building fire this intense, it's difficult to get back inside safely."
"We were called to a chimney fire, but the first arriving crews sent a message back immediately to say the fire was spreading to a bedroom upstairs," said Mr Harrold."We were called to a chimney fire, but the first arriving crews sent a message back immediately to say the fire was spreading to a bedroom upstairs," said Mr Harrold.
"Unfortunately, there were not very good water supplies in the area and the crews were unable to contain the fire and the whole properly was lost."Unfortunately, there were not very good water supplies in the area and the crews were unable to contain the fire and the whole properly was lost.
"It's a shell, the entire interior was destroyed, it's very sad to see as it was clearly a lovely building." "It's a shell; the entire interior was destroyed. It's very sad to see as it was clearly a lovely building."
At the scene: Alex Dunlop, BBC Look East
Standing just 20 yards from the house it's completely gutted. Puffs of smoke still come from near the chimney where it's thought the fire started.
From where I'm standing I can see the first floor no longer exists, there's no roof - it's a very sorry sight.
Stewart Ellis, the owner's son, said his distraught father managed to get out of the building but had been left with just the clothes he was standing in.
The smell of smoke hangs in the air, you can see embers still burning and the red brickwork of this 18th Century house is charred.
The ceiling is clearly in a very dangerous state and it's unlikely this historic home can be resurrected from the ashes.