Latest news with #NorthamptonshirePolice
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Princess Diana's childhood home and resting place 'targeted by arsonists' as farmhouse burned down
Arsonists targeted a farmhouse at the childhood home and final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales in the early hours of Wednesday. The late royal's younger brother Earl Spencer took to social media on Wednesday to reveal that the structure at Althorp House, Northamptonshire had been burned by vandals at around 1.30am. He posted on X, formerly knwon as Twitter: "Stunned to learn that one of @AlthorpHouse's farmhouses — fortunately, unoccupied at the time — was apparently burnt down by vandals last night. "With thanks to @northantsfire for doing their very best. So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do." More details about the destruction of the farmhouse on the Dallington Grange were provided by the estate's gamekeeper Adey Greeno. He said: 'The farmhouse that we lost to a deliberate act of vandalism last night has now had to be razed to the ground for safety reasons. So sad. The world we live in.' Northamptonshire Police said the incident had "not been recorded as a crime at present, but this could change if there is evidence to indicate it was started deliberately'. Meanwhile, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said the two-storey building was "fully' alight when crews arrived. The brigade told the BBC firefighters with breathing apparatus used hose-reel jets to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. One firefighter will reportedly remain on the scene with a water bowser to continue dampening down any remaining hotspots. David Fawkes, chief executive of the Althorp Estate, said: "The house and farm buildings have been unoccupied for several years and the site is scheduled for redevelopment as part of the Dallington Grange development. "The farmhouse was built in the late 18th Century, and it has been completely destroyed by the fire, but the surrounding outbuildings are undamaged. Our priority is to secure the site and make sure it is safe. "We are very grateful to Northampton Fire and Rescue Service and the estate team for dealing with the fire so effectively. We don't know how the fire started." Diana — the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry — lived in the Grade I-listed stately home from the time her parents John Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd divorced in 1969 to her marriage to King Charles, then Prince of Wales, in 1981. The princess tragically died aged 36, alongside her companion Dodi Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul, 41, following a car crash in Paris in 1997. She was burried on a small island in an ornamental lake — known as The Oval — within the grounds of the 13,000-acre country estate, which has belonged to the Spencer family since the 16th century. Opened in July 1998, the memorial is visited by approximately 150,000 people a year. In his 1998 book Althorp: The Story of an English House, Earl Spencer revealed the family's decision to bury his sibling on The Oval, saying: 'We all agreed that, with its beauty and tranquility, this was the place for Diana to be.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Princess Diana's Childhood Home Suffers Damage in 'Suspected Arson'
The estate where Princess Diana grew up was partially damaged in a "suspected arson." Her brother Charles Spencer photographed the blaze, which he called "deeply disturbing." Northamptonshire Police, per People, are investigating the of Princess Diana's childhood home—and her current resting place—was torched in a "suspected arson" attack last night. According to her brother Charles Spencer, the fire at Althorp Estate in Northampton, England has since been put out. "Luckily unoccupied at the time—but still deeply disturbing that one of our farmhouses was torched by vandals last night," Spencer wrote in an Instagram story depicting the blaze. "Sincere thanks to @northantsfire for trying to save it," he continued, shouting out local firemen. In an email to People, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service explained that the property's main home, in which Diana was raised, wasn't damaged by the flames. "The fire was at land on the Althorp estate in Mill Lane, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, rather than at Althorp House," they clarified. The fire department was contacted at approximately 1:30 a.m. on May 28. "Crews arrived to find a derelict two-story property fully on fire," the statement continued. "At the height of the fire, four crews from across the Service wearing breathing apparatus used hose-reel jets to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further." The blaze was officially put out by the afternoon as one crewmember "dampened down any remaining hotspots." Local police officially said they are "investigating a suspected arson at a derelict farmhouse on the Althorp Estate." The property's conservation manager Adey Greeno revealed that the damage was extensive and that the farmhouse needed to be razed "for safety reasons." "The fire, which was reported in the early hours of this morning, is believed to have been started deliberately. However, the exact cause is yet to be determined," Northamptonshire Police's statement continued. Princess Diana's remains are buried on a secluded island part of the Althorp Estate. Last year, Charles revealed that he paid her grave a visit on Christmas Eve via Instagram. "My favorite bench—good place to sit on Christmas Eve during a quiet moment," he captioned the photo, taken at The Temple at Althorp House, which became a memorial to Diana following her death. Read the original article on InStyle
Metro
15 hours ago
- Metro
Arsonists burn down farmhouse on Princess Diana's Althorp House estate
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Arsonists have allegedly targeted a farmhouse at Princess Diana's family estate in Northamptonshire. Lady Di's brother Charles Spencer revealed that a farmhouse at Althorp House was devastated in a huge fire after 'arson.' Footage shows a cottage going up in a fireball yesterday evening, with nearby properties appearing to be at risk too. Charles Spencer wrote on X: 'Stunned to learn that one of Althorp House's farmhouses – fortunately, unoccupied at the time – was apparently burnt down by vandals last night. 'With thanks to Northamptonshire Fire Service for doing their very best. 'So very sad that anyone would think this a fun thing to do.' The farmhouse, which is part of the Althorp House estate near Great Brington, appeared destroyed in the blaze after images showed smoke rising from the smouldering remains. Princess Diana is buried on an island located in the historic estate's Oval Lake. Althorp – a sprawling 13,000-acre estate – has been in the Spencer family for more than 500 years. More Trending Diana spent most of her childhood there until her marriage to the Prince of Wales. Her brother has owned Althorp since 1992 when he inherited the estate at the age of 27. Thousands of visitors flock to the estate every summer when the grounds and the manor are open. It also hosts an annual literary festival. We approached Northamptonshire Police for a comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Raid of Café Diana in Kensington uncovers 45 tubs of 'illegal' shisha tobacco
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Car cruising may be banned under new order
Car cruising is set to be banned across West Northamptonshire over rising concerns about anti-social behaviour. The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would allow the council and Northamptonshire Police to take more effective action against nuisance car activities. West Northamptonshire Council said events had been taking place on the county's roads for several years, while police said they created a "significant demand" on resources due to worried residents calling them. The largest event to date included more over 160 cars and several hundred spectators in March 2024, police said. Locations regularly used for meets include the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, the A45 off junction 16 of the M1, the Sixfields roundabout in Northampton and the A43 Moulton bypass, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. According to the council, features of car cruising include driving at excessive speed, revving engines, driving in a convoy, racing, performing stunts and causing obstruction on a public highway. PSPOs are powers used by councils and their partners to tackle anti-social behaviour in a defined public space. The order would apply to all land within the West Northamptonshire boundary. Individuals could be found in breach if they participate in any car cruising activity as a passenger or driver, or congregate to spectate at such an event. Failure to comply carries a maximum £1,000 fine if convicted by a magistrates' court. Officers may also issue a £100 fixed penalty notice to anyone they have reasonable cause to believe has breached the order. The council's new Reform UK cabinet will meet for the first time on 3 June to discuss the proposed PSPO measures. If approved, the order will be made for a maximum period of three years with the opportunity to extend. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Local Democracy Reporting Service West Northamptonshire Council
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
West Northamptonshire Council could ban car cruising
Car cruising is set to be banned across West Northamptonshire over rising concerns about anti-social Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would allow the council and Northamptonshire Police to take more effective action against nuisance car Northamptonshire Council said events had been taking place on the county's roads for several years, while police said they created a "significant demand" on resources due to worried residents calling largest event to date included more over 160 cars and several hundred spectators in March 2024, police said. Locations regularly used for meets include the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, the A45 off junction 16 of the M1, the Sixfields roundabout in Northampton and the A43 Moulton bypass, according to the Local Democracy Reporting to the council, features of car cruising include driving at excessive speed, revving engines, driving in a convoy, racing, performing stunts and causing obstruction on a public are powers used by councils and their partners to tackle anti-social behaviour in a defined public order would apply to all land within the West Northamptonshire could be found in breach if they participate in any car cruising activity as a passenger or driver, or congregate to spectate at such an to comply carries a maximum £1,000 fine if convicted by a magistrates' may also issue a £100 fixed penalty notice to anyone they have reasonable cause to believe has breached the council's new Reform UK cabinet will meet for the first time on 3 June to discuss the proposed PSPO approved, the order will be made for a maximum period of three years with the opportunity to extend. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
