The owners of Barton House, an £8million Grade II-listed manor in the Cotswolds, have said they are "devastated" after an electrical fire tore through the historic property, less than a year after they bought it. The blaze, which broke out on the first floor due to a fault in a light fitting, has left much of the building damaged, with images showing the roof destroyed, though the extent of the interior damage remains unclear. The incident highlights the fragility of Britain's historic buildings and has prompted an outpouring of local support in the small village of Guiting Power.

Fire crews were called at 11.52am on Saturday 5 September and battled the blaze for almost 12 hours, using eight engines, three jets, two hose reels and 24 breathing apparatus before it was extinguished around 11.30pm. Barton House, which dates back to the 17th century and was previously home to the Hambro family, was sold to a private buyer for £8.28million in January 2025. The owners, who have not been named, said around 30 local residents helped with the clean-up the following day, and thanked the community for its support as restoration efforts continue.