DEVASTATION FROM ABOVE

Firefighters battling to save Britain’s oldest hotel after blaze tears through 250-year-old building

Flames tore through the building after a fire broke out in the nearby art gallery earlier this morning

kathryn cain

Published: 11:48, 28 Oct 2016
Updated: 8:28, 29 Oct 2016

FIREFIGHTERS are continuing the battle a raging inferno in Exeter this afternoon after England's "oldest hotel" became engulfed in flames earlier today.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze which has ripped through buildings in the city, including the Royal Clarence Hotel which is believed to be the country's first.

Firefighters are still working to tackle the blaze at the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter city centre todayCredit: Alamy

The inferno has been raging since the early hours of this morning after a fire broke out in an art gallery nearbyCredit: Alamy

A fire has engulfed the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter after breaking out at around 5.20am this morningCredit: SWNS

It is believed to be England's oldest hotel dating back hundreds of years and is of great significance to the Devon cityCredit: SWNS

Locals have spoken of their fear that this may be the end of the hotel which is more than 250 years oldCredit: PA

The blaze is understood to have started at an art gallery which faces Exeter Cathedral in Devon, but has now spread to the nearby Royal Clarence Hotel.

More than 100 firefighters, police and paramedics are at the scene of the fire, which began at about 5.20am today.

Desperate efforts are on-going to save hotel - which was built in 1769 and is credited as the first hotel in the country.

The fire started in the Castle Fine Art Gallery in Exeter in the early hoursCredit: Apex News

The fire began in another building and spread to the hotel, which has been evacuated as have other nearby buildingsCredit: SWNS

The building is thought to be the oldest hotel in England after the trend changed from inns to French style hotelsCredit: SWNS

Fortunately no-one was injured in the fire and the whole area has been safely evacuatedCredit: PA

Historian Dr Todd Gray said the buildings were "hugely significant" as Beatrix Potter visited the hotel in 1892, looked out and said "what a fine view this is".

He said: "It was the place to be. It was where the anti-slavery people met in the 1700s and 1800s, this is where they planned abolition.

"It had a murkier past later on and it was where the fascists met in the 1930s. It's a key building for Exeter."

Dr Gray said the hotel was also the first to declare themselves as a hotel, before that they had inns.

He added: "I'm just hoping that they can contain it to the 18th Century top and not go further down. To lose this would be a great tragedy for Exeter.

"Hopefully the firemen will be able to pull off a miracle and save what is a very important building to Exeter and to millions of people over the years who pour into the close to have a look."

Witnesses, including the Canon of Exeter Cathedral Anna Norman Walker, said they could see "flying debris".

She told the : "The main concern was a lot of debris flying from the roof of the affected building which was travelling - certainly some of it made it to the roof of the Royal Clarence Hotel."

It is understood the fire broke out at Laura Ashley and the Castle Fine Art Gallery.

Related stories