Arsonists set fire to wool store at historic Wiltshire house

They launched the attack on the wool store at the Grade 2 listed Georgian house in Polebarn Road this evening.

Two fire crews from Trowbridge raced to the scene after the emergency services were alerted at 8.20pm, with two more crews from Warminster and Frome also mobilised.

An eyewitness said: "There is some damage to the roof and the roof timbers have caught fire."

Local resident, Dr Stuart Farrimond, who lives in Polebarn Road, said vandals and arsonists have repeatedly targeted the historic property.

He said its developers, Ashford Homes of Bradford on Avon, must do more to protect it.

He said: “All the warning signs are there. Action needs to be taken and it needs to be done now, not when the company can be bothered."

Dr Farrimond says locals have seen children in school clothing and young adults entering the grounds of the property.

They say some vandals have gained entry to the building and have damaged interior fixtures and fittings.

Photo by Trevor Porter

“They are climbing over the wall and up the scaffolding. One of the residents saw a huge curtain pole that had been tossed into the orchard. They are just wrecking it.

“Someone is going to get injured in there because it is not safe. Things are going on in there and it will end up getting burned down if we are not careful.”

Only last Thursday, Wiltshire Council’s conservation officer Russell Brown inspected the property after an arson attack.

Photo by Trevor Porter

Residents were on hand to highlight recent damage.

Ashford Homes plans to convert Courtfield House into 20 new homes and save 40 of the trees in its gardens and orchard.

Courtfield House is a clothier's house built around 1754 with an earlier 17th century building to the rear.

Adjoining the house is a relatively unaltered wool store which has been targeted in the recent arson attacks.

The house was used as a preparatory school, which closed in April 2012, and then as a dance school.

The roof structure of Courtfield House is in poor condition with a collapsing valley gutter.

The property is currently vacant and subject to vandalism.

It was purchased in April 2016 and plans submitted in 2018 to convert the main house to residential units with new build residential homes in the grounds.

Crews got in attendance and confirmed multiple seats of fire within the building well alight, four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets in use.

Firefighters extinguished fire using six breathing apparatus and three hose reel jets.