FIREFIGHTERS are treating a huge fire at Parnham House in west Dorset as suspicious.

Police and firefighters were alerted to the fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident, or anyone with information to come forward.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said the house suffered a significant amount of damage and the fire service this evening are continuing to dampen down the property.

No one is believed to have been inside at the time of the fire, but police will carry out a full search when it is safe to do so.

The property is likely to be cordoned off for some time to allow investigators to examine the scene.

Detective inspector Andrea Power, of Weymouth CID, said: "An investigation is currently underway to establish the cause and circumstances around the blaze.

"We are treating the fire as suspicious and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area around the early hours of this morning to please contact police."

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that 20 crews were on site trying to save the Grade I listed building.

Images were tweeted by area manager Craig Baker.


Police have now confirmed that the fire is being treated as suspicious and an investigation is underway.

Speaking earlier, a spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: “Officers are currently at the scene assisting with the fire service who are tackling the extensive blaze.

“It is not believed anyone was inside the property and there are no reports of any injuries.

“At this stage the cause of the fire is unknown; however, police are treating it as suspicious and an investigation is under way.”

Dorset Police said officers were alerted at 4.10am.

"Officers arrived at 4.25am to find an extensive fire at the premises - all occupants were accounted for," she said.

It's understood the house has been privately owned and was occupied following renovations in 2009.

It dates back to the 16th century and is considered to be one of Dorset's oldest and most important stately homes.

A spokeswoman for the service said an investigation was now being lead by Dorset Police.

She said: "The cause of the fire is unknown - officers are investigating."

The extent of the damage is unknown at this time but judging from the images it looks like a significant part of the house has been destroyed.

Residents and shop owners in Beaminster have spoken out about their shock on hearing the news.

David Harris, aged 64, has lived in Beaminster all his life.

He said: "This is a dreadful, dreadful shock. 

"It is such an iconic and beautiful building and it is a huge loss to the people of Beaminster.

"No one seems to know much information but I understand firefighters have been working to control the blaze all night.

"I hope no one was injured and the building can be saved."

Employees at Cilla & Camilla said they knew little about what had happened.

One employee, who wanted to remain anonymous said: "I don't know too much about what's happened.

"I walk my dog past Parnham House every day so I spotted the fire engines there this morning.

"It's a dreadful shock and I hope no one was injured."

Members of St Mary's Church said the fire was the "talk of the town".

Mary Shore and her husband Richard retired to Beaminster ten years ago.

Mary said: "We love the town and Parnham House is part of what we love here.

"We are all in complete shock about the fire and how serious it was.

"Fire engines have been driving back and forth through the village all morning.

"It is all anyone is talking about today.

"My thoughts go out to the owners and family."

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 15:69 or alternatively use the 'do it online' form dorset.police.uk/do-it-online/

A spokesman for DWFRS said: "Bridport were called this morning as part of twenty appliances to tackle a significant fire at Parnham House in Beaminster.

"The cause of the fire is still under investigation and crews will remain on scene for some time."

History of Parnham House

Parnham was acquired by Richard de Strode during the reign of Henry VI, on his marriage with Elizabeth Gerard.

Following the marriage of Robert Strode with Elizabeth Hody in 1522, an existing house on the site was rebuilt. the Strode family remained in occupation until 1764 when the male line failed.

The estate then passed to Sir John Oglander of Nun well, Isle of Wight, but the new owners did not reside at Parnham.

In the early C19, Sir William Oglander returned to Parnham, commissioning John Nash (1752-1835) to renovate and improve the house in 1810. In 1896 the last member of the Oglander family died, and Parnham was sold to Vincent Robinson who housed his art collection in the house.

The estate was purchased in 1911 by Dr Hans Sauer, who undertook extensive work on the interior of the house, and laid out new formal gardens inspired by those of Montacute, Somerset. Dr Sauer remained at Parnham only until 1914, when the property was sold to Mr Rhodes-Moorhouse for his son, William, who was killed during the First World War.

William Rhodes-Moorhouse, was the first airman to be awarded the VC and few stories that lie behind Britain's most prestigious gallantry medal can have been more moving.

For not only had Rhodes-Moorhouse written a 'first and final letter' to his recently born son, but he had also written a late postscript to it in which he predicted his death on the day of his final flight - a perilous mission from which he knew he was highly unlikely to return.

After claiming 12 combat victories and being awarded the DFC, Willie Rhodes-Moorhouse's Hurricane was shot down in a dogfight over Kent on 6 September 1940. The body of the young officer, who died aged 25, was recovered and his ashes were later interred beside his father at the family's Parnham estate.

Following the First World War, Parnham was used as a country club, and was then sold in 1930 to Edward Bullivant who returned it to domestic use. During the Second World War it was requisitioned for use by the US Army.

In 1955/6, when Bullivant's son moved to Anderson Manor, Dorset, the estate was divided, and the house converted into a nursing home. From 1973 Parnham stood empty for three years until it was purchased in 1976 by the furniture designer John Makepeace, who converted the stables and coach house to workshops and ran his School for Craftsmen in Wood in the house (guidebook). The house was again sold in 2001 and the site reverted to single, private ownership.