THORNTON Manor’s owners have issued a statement to people with weddings booked at the venue following a devastating fire at the weekend.
Firefighters were called to the Grade-2 listed building at around 9pm on Saturday and extinguished two main seats of fire, involving the boiler.
The three-storey venue was evacuated as firefighters tackled the incident.
At its height, eight fire engines were in attendance at the scene.
Wedding guests had to be evacuated as the fire, believed to have started in the boiler room, took hold.
A police and fire service investigation is now underway into the cause of a blaze.
The fire at Thornton Manor. Picture: Cheshire Wedding DJ / Matthew Tolley
A statement from Thornton Manor’s owners read: “We are unable to make any comment regarding the recent fire at Thornton Manor. This is still being investigated by the relevant authorities.
“However, we will endeavor to contact all our brides, grooms and event organizers as soon as possible.
“Finally, we would like to thank everyone for all their support and patience during this difficult time.”
Incident Commander Ben Ryder said: “On Saturday evening fire crews attended a large fire at Thornton Manor, fortunately staff and guests were evacuated safely from a wedding reception being held and no one was hurt.
“The incident was prolonged and extremely challenging, with firefighters working at height in difficult weather conditions in a complex grade 2 listed building.
“Firefighters worked relentlessly night and day throughout the weekend to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and I would like to express my thanks to them for their persistence and determination.
“Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service remains at the scene and a full investigation is being carried out.”
Thornton Manor on Sunday morning. Picture: Mark Williamson
Manor Road in Thornton Hough, on which the venue is situated, remains closed both ways to motorists following the fire, from Smithy Hill (Thornton Hough Village Hall) to Talbot Avenue.
It is affecting traffic heading between A5137 Brimstage Road and Thornton Common Road (B5136).
Matthew Tolley had been hired as DJ for a wedding party at the venue on Saturday, but ended up leading the evacuation efforts. First after the alarms sounded following the boiler fire and second when the fire reached the roof.
Recalling the incident, he told the Globe: “The fire alarm went off and I went to evacuate the building. I told everyone to get out and went and looked at the fire alarm with the groundsman.
“It showed there was a fire in the boiler room so we went and put it out with an extinguisher.
“But later in the night the alarm went off again. It was the second time the guests had been evacuated that night so they were annoyed with it, but when they went outside and saw the fire and smoke coming from the roof they were scared to dead.”
He added: “I was totally fine when it was happening – but when I was halfway home I burst into tears like a big baby.
He added: “I’m 6′ 10” and 20 stone and was fine at the time, because the adrenaline took hold and I was just focused on the task of making sure everyone was ok.
“But driving back home after I was sobbing like a baby thinking about what had happened earlier and how serious it could have become.
“It could have been a bigger disaster as a lot of people could have gone back up to their bedrooms after the first evacuation.”