Latest news with #historicmansion
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Mystery as Gone With The Wind-style plantation that's one of south's oldest antebellum homes is destroyed by huge blaze
One of the Antebellum-era plantations in the country was destroyed after a massive fire ripped through the historic mansion and completely engulfed it in flames. The massive inferno erupted at Louisiana 's historic Nottoway Plantation House shortly after 2pm Thursday. A giant orange wall of fire consumed the 166-year-old home, which was located along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The blaze, which started in the south wing of the building, devoured the upper portion of the rotunda and sent a plume of thick smoke into the sky. Officials claim the inferno quickly spread to the main house and left behind a trail of destruction. Footage from the property shows charred and collapsed remnants of the once beautiful house. The plantation's northern wing and back wall were completely destroyed, with only the chimneys remaining on each side. The façade and upper balcony had also collapsed. Although authorities note it is too soon to determine the full extent of the damage, the mansion's owner, Louisiana attorney Dan Dyess, said in a written statement that the fire had led to a 'total loss' after all the time and money he invested in the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Iberville Parish government officials said. No injuries were reported. Nearly a dozen fire departments from surrounding towns were called to Nottoway Plantation in White Castle on Thursday after a blaze broke out at the home. Flames ripped through a massive mansion, destroying much of the historic structure that was used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859. Mansion staff discovered smoke around 2pm after walking into a room in the museum on the second floor of the home, WAFB reports. Firefighters initially extinguished the blaze, but it reignited Thursday evening, causing flames to shoot from the roof as it collapsed in. Officials suspect the fire broke out in a second-floor bedroom. The fire has been contained, and no other properties were harmed, said Maj. Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Parish Sheriff´s Office. Other structures on the grounds have been preserved, parish officials said. Before the fire, Nottoway Plantation was a resort and event venue, and its website described it as 'the South's largest remaining antebellum mansion'. Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle called it 'a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance.' Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal Public Affairs Director Ken Pastorick said authorities are still in the 'beginning phases of the investigation'. 'We don't know how the fire began and our objective is to determine how it started,' he added. When the fire first broke out, authorities said the planation's owners were dedicated to rebuilding and repairing the home in line with historic preservation. But now the owners are reportedly unsure if they will move forward with that plan, officials told WAFB. The 53,000-square-foot home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles northwest of New Orleans had a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. 'We are devastated and heartbroken for this loss,' owner Dan Dyess said. 'This was my dream that has now been dashed.' In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved Black people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. In 1860, 155 enslaved people were held at the property, according to National Park Service records. 'While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,' Daigle said. 'Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era,' he added. 'It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history - even the painful parts - so that future generations can learn and grow from it.'
The Independent
16-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Fire destroys a sprawling mansion on a former Louisiana sugar plantation
Flames ripped through a massive mansion in Louisiana, destroying much of the historic structure that was used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859, authorities said. The fire that engulfed the Nottoway Plantation House on Thursday devastated the building along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle said on social media. Nearly a dozen fire departments from surrounding towns battled the blaze, he said. No injuries were reported. Before the fire, it was a resort and event venue, and its website described it as 'the South's largest remaining antebellum mansion." Daigle called it 'a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance.' The 53,000-square-foot (4,924-square-meter) home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans included a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and included hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. The mansion's owner, Louisiana attorney Dan Dyess, said in a written statement that the fire had led to a 'total loss" after all the time and money he invested in the building. 'We are devastated and heartbroken for this loss,' he said. 'This was my dream that has now been dashed.' Photos from local news outlets showed a giant orange wall of fire consuming the upper portion of the rotunda and sending a plume of thick smoke into the sky. The fire has been contained, and no other properties were harmed, said Maj. Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office. Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire, he added. In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved Black people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. In 1860, 155 enslaved people were held at the property, according to National Park Service records. 'While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,' Daigle said. 'Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era," he added. "It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it.'
Associated Press
16-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Fire destroys a sprawling mansion on a former Louisiana sugar plantation
WHITE CASTLE, La. (AP) — Flames ripped through a massive mansion in Louisiana, destroying much of the historic structure that was used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859, authorities said. The fire that engulfed the Nottoway Plantation House on Thursday devastated the building along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle said on social media. Nearly a dozen fire departments from surrounding towns battled the blaze, he said. No injuries were reported. Before the fire, it was a resort and event venue, and its website described it as 'the South's largest remaining antebellum mansion.' Daigle called it 'a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance.' The 53,000-square-foot (4,924-square-meter) home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans included a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and included hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. Photos from local news outlets show a giant orange wall of fire consuming the upper portion of the rotunda and sending a plume of thick smoke into the sky. In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. 'While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,' Daigle said. 'Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era,' he added. 'It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it.'
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Historic listed Jacobean mansion goes on market for just £288k - but there's a big catch
A historic mansion has gone up for sale for just £288,000, but there is just one catch. Shire Hall, a 125-year-old listed building located on the island of Anglesey, Wales, sits overlooking the Afon Cefni river and was built of stone in 1899 at the cost of just £4,453. An extension was also later added in 1912. It has been used as an office accommodation for several years but it is now set to be sold at auction between May 20 and 22. Those interested in the property are being advised to view it from a safe distance. This is because Shire Hall now stands derelict - a sad shadow of its former self, after suffering catastrophic fire damage. It is inaccessible and unsafe to visit, with a collapsed roof and significant infrastructural issues. But Paul Fosh Auctions - the company overseeing the sale - says the derelict site actually presents an exciting opportunity for developers, with planning permission to convert the property into six riverside apartments already secured. Gemma Vaughan, of the auction house, said: 'The lot offers a most unusual and exciting opportunity for an investor/developer to acquire this historic building in the heart of Llangefni. 'The substantial but derelict property, the site of which extends to some three quarters of an acre, has a prime position overlooking the Afon Cefni. 'Planning permission has been granted for the creation of six townhouses, of four storey construction and extending to approximately 150m squared each, located beside the river. 'However, the site would seem to support a significantly greater density of use, particularly if the now redundant building were to be demolished in part or entirety. 'The vendor's architects have consulted with the local authority which has indicated support for a more elaborate scheme.' Anglesey is known for its scenic coastline with numerous sandy beaches, with excellent walking both inland and along the Anglesey Coastal Path. Shire Hall - located on Glanhwfa Road - benefits from good road connections and is located within one mile of the A55 expressway facilitating easy access across Anglesey and the north Wales coast to Cheshire. The mansion is set to go on sale along with 90 others in an online Paul Fosh Auctions sale, which starts from 12 noon on Tuesday, May 20 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, May 22.
