Fire tears through historic Dollis Hill House

This is the moment a fire tore through Dollis Hill House in Gladstone Park last night (20), causing considerable damage to the Grade II listed building.

According to Martin Redston, a trustee who was called to the scene, firefighters arrive at 9pm and battled the flames for an hour before bringing the blaze under control.

Built in 1825 Dollis Hill House counts the American author Mark Twain and former Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone among its former guests.

But the former grand house fell victim to several arson attacks in the 1990’s which ravaged its architecture and hampered restoration work.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

A spokeswoman said it looked like the metal fence had been forced open, and that they are treating the fire as suspicious.

Enquiries are on going.