Wythenshawe Hall fire: Manchester Tudor stately home's roof destroyed

Emergency service vehicles gather after an overnight fire caused extensive damage to the roof and first floor of the 16th century Tudor Hall of Wythenshawe Hall, near Manchester. Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble

 Dozens of firefighters have been battling to save a historic Tudor mansion after a blaze destroyed its roof and first floor.

Wythenshawe Hall, a timber-framed former stately home turned museum and art gallery, has been badly damaged in the fire early on Tuesday.

The fire broke out in the roof of the 16th Cenbtury building, near Manchester, at just after 3.30am. No one was inside or hurt, but firefighters said they were "doing everything we can" to save the property. 

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Fire causes devastating damage to Manchester's Wythenshawe Hall

Firefighters investigating cause of blaze that badly damaged roof and clock tower of historic 16th-century Tudor mansion

A fire has torn through a Tudor mansion in Manchester, causing “devastating” damage.

At its peak more than 50 firefighters using 10 appliances and an aerial platform battled the blaze at Wythenshawe Hall. The flames badly damaged the 16th-century building’s clock tower and its roof after fire broke out in the early hours on Tuesday, Greater Manchester fire and rescue service said.


The blaze was later brought under control and the area manager, Warren Pickstone, said firefighters were investigating the cause with Greater Manchester police. 

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Restoration of 9th century Spanish castle mocked

Work on a ninth century Spanish castle has been labelled the world’s worst restoration project by locals who have slammed it as a “disaster”. 

A major facelift on a ninth century Spanish castle has been labelled the world's  worst restoration project by locals who have slammed it as a 'wreck'  [Credit: Pedro Sanchez] 

Castillo de Matrera in Cádiz in southern Spain is a listed building and an official site of cultural interest which has withstood assaults by Moors and Christians but seems to have finally succumbed to restoration work. 

The beautiful building had needed structural work after part of it collapsed following heavy rains but bosses hired a local building firm rather than archaeological experts to carry out the work. 

They used grey concrete to fill in and square off the crumbling, sand coloured stone, with locals now saying the ancient fortress looks ‘absolutely terrible’ and is ‘a disaster of a project’.

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Roadworks uncover lost medieval Scottish village

Motorway construction workers have unearthed archaeological artefacts which experts believe may be from a lost medieval Scots village. 

Artists impression of the lost village of Cadzow  [Credit: Transport Scotland] 

The crew made the discovery 18-months ago on the verge of the M74, near J6, opposite Hamilton Services. 

It included two structures, coins and pieces of pottery and smoking pipes. 

Archaeologist believe they may be more than 1,000 years old and could finally identify the location of the lost village of Cadzow. Cadzow was the name given to a community on the edge of the River Clyde at this location until 1445.

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Did Henry VIII suffer same brain injury as some NFL players?

Detail of portrait of Henry VIII by the workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger. 

(Google Art Project)

Henry VIII may have suffered repeated traumatic brain injuries similar to those experienced by football players and others who receive repeated blows to the head, according to research by a Yale University expert in cognitive neurology.

Traumatic brain injury explains the memory problems, explosive anger, inability to control impulses, headaches, insomnia — and maybe even impotence — that afflicted Henry during the decade before his death in 1547, according to a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience on Feb. 5.

“It is intriguing to think that modern European history may have changed forever because of a blow to the head,” said Arash Salardini, behavioral neurologist, co-director of the Yale Memory Clinic and senior author of the study.

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Joan of Arc ring returned to France

Joan of Arc is thought to have handed the ring to England's Cardinal Henry Beaufort on the eve of her execution in 1431 Photo: CASCADE NEWS

A ring believed to have belonged to Joan of Arc is being returned to France for the first time in 600 years after being sold at auction for almost £300,000. 

The ring was bought by the Puy du Fou foundation, which runs a historical theme park in France, at auction in London for around 30 times its estimate. 

The Puy foundation said the ring's return to France was highly symbolic.

The news was greeted by those on the Far Right in France, for whom this has become something of a cause célèbre. 

Front National leader Marine le Penn sent a thank you message on Twitter to Philippe de Villiers, the founder of Puy du Fou, for bringing the ring back to France.

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