Arsonists blamed for blaze in Southend's North Road chapel

7:00am Friday 14th November 2008

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ARSONISTS set fire to an abandoned chapel in the early hours of yesterday morning, firefighters believe.

Fire crews raced to the blaze at the building in the grounds of North Road Cemetery, in Southend, just before 12.45am.

It took 24 firefighters more than an hour and a half to bring the fire under control.

Southend fire station’s acting station officer Lee Burling said: “There is no doubt this was a deliberate fire. There is nothing inside this building which could have started the fire.

“It looks as if people have removed some of the panelling and pews from one of the chapels and piled them up before setting them on fire.

“Whether this was a fire started by someone to keep warm, or a deliberate case of arson, we can’t be sure.

“It’s a shame as this is a lovely old building.”

The building, which consists of two adjoining chapels linked by a central atrium, is owned by Southend Council, but has been derelict for many years.

A third of the building was completely destroyed by the fire, which was started in the north chapel side. The atrium, south chapel and spire appear to have survived intact.

The chapels were built in 1879 and are on Southend Council’s non-statutory listed building register, which is similar to the national listed buildings scheme. which protects buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The fire damage delivered a blow to hopes the building could be restored.

Adrian Harris, external funding officer for Southend Council’s enterprise and innovation team, said: “It’s a lovely old building and it would have been great to restore it to its prime, so I am disappointed this has happened.”