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Family Flee Blazing Home
A FAMILY from Clare whose historic home was devastated by fire at the weekend have praised neighbours who rallied round to save their furniture and offer accommodation.
Peter and Karen Shave, daughter Lara, 18, and son James, 16, all escaped unhurt from Cliftons House in Nethergate Street when fire broke out at about 7pm on Saturday.
The roof of the Grade I listed building was completely destroyed and all nine bedrooms gutted. Lara's bedroom on the second floor collapsed into the first floor and she has lost all her clothes and possessions.
Mr Shave said he first noticed a fire outside the front door after hearing a crackling noise and at first had not seen that the roof was on fire. Someone else had already called the fire brigade and 60 officers tackled the blaze for more than three hours.
Mr Shave praised firefighters for their "magnificent" effort in stopping the fire spreading to the rest of the house, and neighbours who carried out pieces of antique furniture and stored them for the family.
Although it will take at least six months and probably double that, the family is determined to rebuild and restore the house.
"I would like to say thank you to all the neighbours, we had the whole street out there bring out tables and chairs. All of our antique furniture was brought out and stored in various houses.
"Clare has got a very good community spirit at times like this and people were wonderful. We probably had 10 offers of accommodation. One chap who has a weekend cottage offered it to us for the next five days and I don't even know him.
"Cliftons House is a very special house and we have lived there for 14 years. Parts of it date back to 1470 and I expect it has seen a few trials and tribulations over the past 500 years. I intend to make sure it is there for the next 500 years," Mr Shave said.
Mr Shave said quick action by the fire service had managed to save the north wing from destruction, as well as the main staircase and some Jacobean panelling.
Although the family has lost many of its possessions, Mr Shave's main concern was that no-one was hurt.
It is thought the fire may have been started by a spark from a blow torch which a workman was using to strip paint from a wooden pillar at the front of the house.
Although the roof was destroyed the house's distinctive chimneys survived the blaze.
Cliftons House is one of the oldest houses in Clare.
Story By: Jo Deeks
Date : 15-02-2001
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