An electrical fault probably caused a fire which destroyed Dartmouth's historic Tudor centre.Eight businesses and up to 15 flats in the Devon port were destroyed or severely damaged in the fire on Friday. Among the buildings destroyed in Fairfax Place were 16th Century Tudor buildings with English Heritage Grade I and Grade II listed status.
It is possible some of the buildings may have to be demolished, while others could take six months or more to rebuild or refurbish. Commenting on the impact of the fire, English Heritage said the immediate priority was safety and establishing the structural integrity of the buildings. English Heritage will work with the local authority to help to assess the damage to the original fabric of the buildings and begin the process of identifying what can and cannot be salvaged from the fire.
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