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100 YEARS AGO DENTON MANOR WENT UP IN FLAMES
By John Pinchbeck
By John PinchbeckDenton Manor was one of the most handsome buildings in the area, but 100 years ago this week, it was ravaged by fire. Dozens of wagons, traps and other horse-drawn vehicles were chartered in Grantham as spectators rushed to watch the blaze.
Grantham firemen climbed ladders and stripped away roof tiles for their hose jets. They drew water from fishponds 300 metres away.
Hornsby's works fire brigade was given special permission to leave Spittlegate Ironworks in town and the Duke of Rutland's private fire engine turned out. In the afternoon, Newark firemen arrived to help.
They saved much of the manor, confining the fire to the upper floors, but the flames and water caused 30,000 damage to fabric and furniture – around 3 million today.
The fire, which began in the chapel and blamed on an overheating flue, was discovered by a housemaid. Sir Charles and Lady Welby were in church, unaware of the blaze.
Friends and villagers helped to remove valuable paintings and furniture.
They were collected by furnisher John Hall, of Grantham, who stored them in his warehouse.
The original Denton Manor was stone mansion built on a wooded hill. It was nearly all rebuilt in 1816-17.
There is a spring near the house – St. Christopher's Well – said to possess medicinal and healing powers.
In 1842, The Welby family took over and between 1879 and 83 rebuilt the house.
Although a great deal of the manor was destroyed, the blaze strengthened the family's resolve to rebuild it and restored it to its former glory. But like so many stately homes in the area, the upkeep became beyond the family's means and in 1938 it was demolished.
All that remains is the gatehouse at Denton crossroads.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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