Girl, 14, arrested after ‘arson' at Grade I-listed manor
Merseyside Police said the fire at Woolton Hall, Liverpool, on Tuesday evening 'appears to have been an extremely reckless act' after the force had reports that a large number of youths were seen gathering nearby.
The girl was taken into custody to be questioned and was conditionally bailed.
Det Insp Daniel McWhinnie said: 'This appears to have been an extremely reckless act at a historic building that has stood at the site for hundreds of years.
'We know the community will be rightly shocked by what happened and we are determined to find all those responsible.'
The force is appealing for anyone who was there, knows who was there, or parents whose children were out that night to come forward.
The hall, which is privately owned, was built in 1704.
It had previously been used as a hotel, an army hospital, a convent and a school, but has recently fallen into disrepair.
Local campaigners have been calling for it to be saved for a number of years.
In 2019, fire crews were called to tackle a suspected arson attack in outbuildings and worked to prevent the blaze spreading to the main building.
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The Guardian
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The Independent
27 minutes ago
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