Fire ruined 'happy memories' of listed building

Peter Wright lived in Shotley Park when it was a children's home in the 1970s

The destruction of a Grade II-listed building which was once a care and children's home ruined happy memories of people who lived there, a former resident has said.

A large fire broke out at Shotley Park, Shotley Bridge, County Durham, on 5 October.

The former stately home, which dates back to the 1800s, was a Dr Barnardo's children's home between 1947 and 1986.

Peter Wright, who lived there for about 10 years in the 1970s with his brother, said he was "absolutely devastated" and could not bring himself to look at the burned building.

"Because it's destroyed, now all our happy memories are gone," Mr Wright said.

"It's just devastating to see the way it is and the chance of that getting rebuilt again is less than zero."

Shotley Park was most recently used as a care home

Mr Wright, who lives in nearby Consett, said he had scattered his brother's ashes not far from Shotley Park and the only way to get to the area was to walk past the building.

But the 67-year-old said he could not bring himself to go there and see it in its current state.

"It's not only destroyed my happy memories, but also denied me to lay some flowers down in the area where we scattered his ashes," he said of the blaze.

The fire is being treated as suspected arson

Shotley Park was most recently used as a care home, which closed in 2023 because of high costs.

The fire is being treated as a suspected arson.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service previously said five engines battled the blaze at its height.

Melanie Calland's great-grandparents Herbert and Mary, pictured with daughters Delia (standing) and Edna, met while working at Shotley Park

Local resident Melanie Calland said she was "absolutely gutted" when she found out the building had been destroyed.

"It's so sad that Consett keeps losing its heritage," she said.

Ms Calland said her great-grandparents, Herbert and Mary Schweermann, had met while working at Shotley Park in the early 1900s.

Her grandmother Delia Thompson also ended up working there, and later lived in the building when it became a care home.

Mary Schweermann in the conservatory at Shotley Park, where she worked

She once told Ms Calland how the daughter of the family who lived at the stately home fell from her horse, ruining her pink velvet outfit.

"She gave it to Delia and said she could keep it and see if she could get the grass stains off," Ms Calland said.

"So nana had treasured that pink suit and worn it for best after scrubbing it."

Shotley Park dates back to the 1800s

Janine Pearson said her husband had done some work to upgrade the building.

"He worked on the roof and maintained the building for years as the main contractor," she said.

When she heard about the fire, she "was extremely sad", saying "it was a beautiful building in a stunning setting".

A spokesperson for Historic England said it was "saddened" to hear of the blaze and had reached out to Durham County Council.