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This is Scunthorpe --
STAFF at Normanby Hall have expressed relief that a fire in the grounds did not spread to the house itself.
Firefighters were called to a large blaze near the walled garden that investigators say involved a fence, hedgerow and diesel tank.
The burning diesel caused thick plumes of black smoke to rise above the country park – but the fire was stopped before it did any major damage.
And staff say they are relieved that the fire was caught early, before it damaged the 19th century walled garden and collection of museum pieces.
Susan Hopkinson, museum and heritage manager at Normanby Hall, said: "There is a feeling that this fire could have been so much worse.
"When I heard there was a fire, my first reaction was one of panic. I could see the smoke from Winteringham when I drove to the park, which made me think the fire was a lot worse than it was.
"The fire service dealt with it very quickly and were fantastic. The ground was so dry because of the weather – it could easily have spread across the grounds.
"It is mostly heat and smoke damage rather than fire damage, mostly affecting the buildings and museum at the rear of the walled garden."
The fire service do not believe the fire was suspicious, but have not yet determined its cause.
The buildings to the rear of the walled garden, built in 1817, are home to a number of museum pieces documenting the history of Normanby Hall.
Mrs Hopkinson said that they would have been very hard to replace had they been lost in the fire.
"It could have been a disaster," she said.
"There are some very important items there that tell the story of living and working at Normanby Hall in the past.
"We feel relieved that no-one was injured. One lady who works here lives very close to where the fire happened and her car and hedges were badly damaged by the heat.
"You don't like to think about what could have happened. If the fire had spread to Normanby Hall itself, it would have been devastating for us.
"Luckily it was a long way from the hall, because a lot of things in there are irreplaceable. I don't know what we would have done and it is just a relief that it didn't happen.
"One of the other biggest attractions is the walled garden. People come from far away to see it through the seasons and it would have been a big blow if it had been damaged."
The museum display in the buildings to the rear of the walled garden will be closed temporarily while repairs are carried out, but the walled garden itself will remain open. Reported by This is 20 hours ago.
Clik here to view.
This is Scunthorpe --STAFF at Normanby Hall have expressed relief that a fire in the grounds did not spread to the house itself.
Firefighters were called to a large blaze near the walled garden that investigators say involved a fence, hedgerow and diesel tank.
The burning diesel caused thick plumes of black smoke to rise above the country park – but the fire was stopped before it did any major damage.
And staff say they are relieved that the fire was caught early, before it damaged the 19th century walled garden and collection of museum pieces.
Susan Hopkinson, museum and heritage manager at Normanby Hall, said: "There is a feeling that this fire could have been so much worse.
"When I heard there was a fire, my first reaction was one of panic. I could see the smoke from Winteringham when I drove to the park, which made me think the fire was a lot worse than it was.
"The fire service dealt with it very quickly and were fantastic. The ground was so dry because of the weather – it could easily have spread across the grounds.
"It is mostly heat and smoke damage rather than fire damage, mostly affecting the buildings and museum at the rear of the walled garden."
The fire service do not believe the fire was suspicious, but have not yet determined its cause.
The buildings to the rear of the walled garden, built in 1817, are home to a number of museum pieces documenting the history of Normanby Hall.
Mrs Hopkinson said that they would have been very hard to replace had they been lost in the fire.
"It could have been a disaster," she said.
"There are some very important items there that tell the story of living and working at Normanby Hall in the past.
"We feel relieved that no-one was injured. One lady who works here lives very close to where the fire happened and her car and hedges were badly damaged by the heat.
"You don't like to think about what could have happened. If the fire had spread to Normanby Hall itself, it would have been devastating for us.
"Luckily it was a long way from the hall, because a lot of things in there are irreplaceable. I don't know what we would have done and it is just a relief that it didn't happen.
"One of the other biggest attractions is the walled garden. People come from far away to see it through the seasons and it would have been a big blow if it had been damaged."
The museum display in the buildings to the rear of the walled garden will be closed temporarily while repairs are carried out, but the walled garden itself will remain open. Reported by This is 20 hours ago.
