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| Alston Hall near Preston badly damaged in fire | Alston Hall near Preston badly damaged in fire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 19th Century Grade II-listed house has been badly damaged in a fire. | A 19th Century Grade II-listed house has been badly damaged in a fire. |
| Seventy-five firefighters are tackling the blaze which broke out at Alston Hall, near Preston, at about 22:40 GMT on Wednesday. | Seventy-five firefighters are tackling the blaze which broke out at Alston Hall, near Preston, at about 22:40 GMT on Wednesday. |
| The three-storey mansion, which was under renovation, was "well-alight" and most of the house had been damaged, Lancashire Fire and Rescue said. | The three-storey mansion, which was under renovation, was "well-alight" and most of the house had been damaged, Lancashire Fire and Rescue said. |
| Crews in 10 fire engines fought the fire using water from a nearby pond. The cause is not yet known. | Crews in 10 fire engines fought the fire using water from a nearby pond. The cause is not yet known. |
| A fire service spokesman said parts of the roof had collapsed at the Gothic-style mansion. | |
| Alston Hall, designed by architect Alfred Darbyshire, was built between 1874 and 1876 for colliery owner John Mercer. | Alston Hall, designed by architect Alfred Darbyshire, was built between 1874 and 1876 for colliery owner John Mercer. |
| It remained a family home until 1949 when the hall was sold to Preston Borough Council. In 1974 it was bought by Lancashire County Council, which sold it last year. | It remained a family home until 1949 when the hall was sold to Preston Borough Council. In 1974 it was bought by Lancashire County Council, which sold it last year. |