A groom is reported to have set fire to a protected building he was supposed to be getting married in, after a dispute over the bill. The castle is the only medieval style castle in Britain, and is seen as a very prestigious location. Manchester United star Wes Brown married at the hotel, and it is frequently used in film, such as Dr Who and Robin Hood.
20 appliances and more then 100 firefighters spent Sunday trying to control the blaze at Peckforton Castle, in Cheshire. Appliances were called in from four different counties, and there was a growing concern that the building would be completely destroyed. The building has extensive fire damage, and it is thought it will cost over $1.6 million dollars to repair it.
Police were called, and it is believed that the groom was arrested for arson, although the police would neither confirm nor deny this. Management allege that the fire was started just hours after the groom had responded angrily to the cost of the wedding, and police were questioning him and other party guests.
The venue did allow the bride and her guests to finish the celebration, with the wedding co-ordinator arranging a different venue for the reception.
The damage to the building is much more difficult to fix. It took firefighters 12 hours to get the blaze under control, but a quarter of the castle has burnt down, and all three floors of the same wing were also destroyed. Investigators were allowed access once the blaze was out, while the hotel tries to sort out the upcoming weddings booked at the castle.
The hotels manager said; “It has not really sunk in yet. We don’t know the extent of the damage, but I’ve been told that the upper floors have collapsed. It is pretty much a shell. It has been a nightmare, but at least no one was hurt.”
When asked about couples who are booked to marry at the hotel, the Telegraph reports that he will keep everyone updated on the hotel as soon as possible.