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26th April
2001
Today there was a major fire at G J Waller's hosiey factory
in the centre of the village. The fire started shortly before
4:30pm and quickly spread throughout the building causing
an estimated £500 000 worth of damage to stock and machinary.
G J Waller's
is housed in the 150 year old old stable block of Tower House.
The blaze is believed to have started on the first floor at
the front of the building, possibly by a yarn winding machine
seizing.
The fire
was tended by several engines and 26 fire-fighters from across
South Leicestershire. They pumped water from the river, some
150 metres away.
Concerned
villagers gathered to watch as fire-fighters worked hard to
bring the fire under control but they were forced to retreat
from the building and by 7.00pm the whole of the inside was
gutted and the roof was lost.
At one point, nearby residents in Tower Court were evacuated
as there were fears the fire would spread to large trees adjacent
to the factory.
There is concern now in the village as to the future of the
historic building.
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