Stately home fire 'still burning'

The blaze started in a chimney and rapidly spread

A stately home almost completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of Saturday is still burning, say fire chiefs at the scene.

At its height, 100 firefighters tackled the blaze at Allerton Castle near Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.

The entire roof and first floor of the Grade I listed 19th century building collapsed, but nobody was injured.

About 50 fire crew remained at the scene as pockets of fire continued to burn in the roof and basement.

Crews are expected to work throughout the night and Sunday morning to ensure the fire does not flare up again.

Twelve guests who were staying at the private residence were all led to safety unharmed.

The ancestral home of Baron Stourton is said to be among the most important Gothic Revival stately homes in England.

Allerton Castle Ancestral home of Lord Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton Most important Gothic Revival stately home in England 18th century home of Prince Frederick, the Duke of York

Fire service group manager Jez Rushworth told BBC News from the scene: "We have been working with structural engineers to assess what areas of the site we are safe to work in.

"At the moment the true extent of the damage is not known.

"We have been able to save some artefacts and are currently waiting for the owners to arrange storage for these.

"This is certainly one of the biggest incidents I have ever attended."

English Heritage, which said it was "extremely concerned to hear of the fire", sent its own structural engineer to assess the damage.

A spokesman said: "Now and in the weeks to come we will be offering our support and expertise to assess the nature and extent of the damage and the best way to bring the building back into full use."

North Yorkshire Fire Service said the incident was initially reported as a chimney fire, which then spread to the roof of the building, which is situated in parkland near the A1 between Harrogate and York.

Smoke billowed from the collapsed roof of the building

The house is "the ancestral home of Lord Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton, the premier Baron of England", according to its website.

It says the building is the most important Gothic Revival stately home in England.

In the 18th century the property was owned by Prince Frederick, the Duke of York, brother to King George IV.

According to local legend, a hill within the estate, once known as Arbour Hill, is the one mentioned in the nursery rhyme The Grand Old Duke of York.

The house is best known for the galleried Great Hall which is almost 80ft high and claims to be one of the highest baronial halls in England.

A fire service spokesman said he could not say at this stage whether the great hall had been spared, but it seemed "unlikely".

American businessman Gerald Rolph bought Allerton Park in 1983 and renovated the building, restocking it with furniture and paintings.

It has also been used as a film location, most prominenttly in the 1993 adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett'sclassic children's story 'The Secret Garden', starring Dame Maggie Smith.