Fire damages roof of listed former court building
Flames were seen coming from the roof of Sessions House on Wednesday evening
- Published
A historic former court building in Lincolnshire has been damaged in a fire.
Fire crews were called to Sessions House in Market Place, Sleaford, on Wednesday at 17:20 GMT.
The blaze damaged the roof of the 19th Century former criminal court, which now houses a restaurant and offices.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said there were people in the building who managed to escape, and there were no reports of injuries.
The fire service's Dave Gilbert said the three-storey stone structure was "quite a difficult building to access".
"The crews did a fantastic job of getting in quickly. Identifying where the fire was was quite significant," he said.
Fire crews were called to Market Place in Sleaford on Wednesday evening
"We managed to get enough resources on scene and to get the fire under control and prevent it from spreading any further."
At the height of the blaze, 11 fire engines were at the scene, including an aerial platform.
It was brought under control at about midnight.
A worker at the nearby Pizza Delight said the whole building had been shut and "the area has been closed by police officers".
Ken Hanslip, who owns a shop nearby, said: "It's devastating for the businesses involved. Their livelihood at the moment is on hold. It's a terrible thing.
"The good thing is that no-one so far has been injured. The fire brigade has been marvellous. They've done wonders."
Fire crews in Market Place on Thursday morning
The building was completed in 1831 and was built by local architect Henry Edward Kendall.
It was designed with a gothic-style, featuring arched windows, embattled parapets, and medieval details.
According to Sleaford and District Civic Trust, Sessions House ceased to be a court in 2008 and was converted into a restaurant.
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