Liverpool fire: Huge blaze rips through massive manor house as roof collapses

A huge fire has destroyed the roof of a manor house in Liverpool and left the historic building gutted by the blaze as locals were told to "stay away." Firefighters battled against the flames throughout the night at Woolton Hall, which was built in 1704 and served as a hotel, convent, school and military hospital before becoming derelict.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) were called to the scene at about 8.15pm on Tuesday (August 19) where they found the building alight with a fire about 40 by 30 metres in size. MFRS had eight fire engines and an aerial appliance at the scene by 9.30pm.

MFRS confirmed was "well alight" and the roof had collapsed. Later on last nigth the service revealed it was deemed unsafe to send firefighters into the burning building.

People living near Woolton Hall were told to keep their doors and windows closed as the fire tore through the building.

Firefighters used a drone to get a better picture of the blaze amid efforts to stop the fire spreading to a neighbouring structure.

In an update posted at 11.30pm, MFRS said there were nine fire engines and an aerial appliance were at the scene with the aerial appliance and main jet hoses being used to fight the fire.

Just before midnight last night, firefighters were able to scale back their efforts as they began to get the flames under control.

Fire crews continued to fight the fire through the night, posting an update at 7am which said good progress made yesterday evening meant efforts could be scaled down to four fire engines and an aerial appliance.

MFRS said: "Crews damped down the scene with main branch hoses and hose reel jets. The main body of fire was extinguished just before 2.00am this morning and damping down and checking for hot spots continued throughout the night.

"Three fire engines and an aerial appliance remain at the scene."

The same site had been hit by a fire in 2019. It was treated as an arson attack by police. Grade I-listed Woolton Hall was then added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk register as a Category A site two years later.

That category defines a structure as being at an "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric".

Jonathon Wild, who has campaigned for years to save the historic building, told the Liverpool Echo: "This is the same as Liverpool Cathedral going on fire. The same category listing.

"I am absolutely devastated that this has happened and I ask that the powers that be hold a full investigation in to this fire and the outcome is that this building is somehow rebuilt."