Inferno guts historic inn

From the Salisbury Journal, first published Monday 27th Oct 2003.

FIRE gutted a 16th century inn and two adjoining cottages at Morgans Vale, Redlynch, on Monday night.

For the second time in just over a decade, the Apple Tree Inn has been reduced to a shell, following a chimney fire in the Grade II listed Downton Hill property.

Fire crews from Salisbury, Fordingbridge and Lyndhurst were called to the pub just after 7.30pm, but the blaze had already spread to the thatched roof by the time they arrived.

The first crews requested back-up and, at the height of the incident, 12 pumping appliances and 90 firefighters were tackling the blaze.

Firefighters desperately fought to make a break in the thatch and prevent the 40ft flames from spreading further but, by 8.30pm, the two cottages were also alight.

In the end, all the firefighters could do was salvage a few personal items.

Fire brigade assistant divisional officer Ian Rennie, operations commander for Salisbury and south Wiltshire, said that the cause of the blaze was accidental and that there was a strong possibility it was the result of a chimney fire.

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