Former Chester school building destroyed by fire

May 19 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

A LANDMARK former Chester school building has been destroyed by fire.

The blaze at the former Abbey Gate School in Victoria Road, by the Northgate Arena, was reported about 4.10pm on Monday.

Two aerial platforms and six fire engines were used to tackle the fire which began in the roof space of the Victorian building. Two ambulances were on stand-by but no injuries were reported.

A handful of residents in Mason Street, who said they had been informed the school was due to be demolished, were evacuated.

Small crowds in Victoria Road and Liverpool Road witnessed the scene.

Emergency vehicles blocked the city centre-bound carriageway of Liverpool Road causing congestion during the rush-hour while the instability of the gable end meant local train services had to be suspended on the line close to firefighting activities.

Fire crews were unable to enter the building to make a search because the structure was deemed too precarious.

The cause is unknown at present but senior fire officers are aware homeless people have been frequenting the building. One fire officer told The Chronicle the damage was “pretty bad”.

Last December tramps living in the former school sparked a blaze after a fire started to keep themselves warm got out of hand.

Vagrants were seen leaving the building when fire crews arrived.

Abbey Gate School moved to the former All Saint’s Infant School in Clare Avenue, Hoole, in September 2006 to allow the potential redevelopment of the Northgate area of the city.

The availability of the premises in Clare Avenue provided new opportunities for the popular independent school.