FIRE DESTROYS MANSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRE DESTROYS MANSION

JEWELS BELIEVED LOST FALL FROM BLAZING ROOM An old Sussex mansion, Uckfield House, was destroyed by fire recently. It was the residence of Major Guy Larnach-Nevill, heir to the Marquis of Abergavenny, and - his wife. Mrs. Larnach-Nevill discovered the outbreak about 4 a.m. in the dining room, and three fire brigades wero summoned. Within hi)lf an hour the flames had burst through the roof, and practically everything upstairs was destroyed. When it was seen that there was little hope of saving the building all efforts were concentrated on salvaging furniture, .and soon tho greater part of it was piled up on the lawns. The room occupied by Mrs. LarnachNevill was destroyed, and it was thought that a caso containing much valuable jewellery had been lost, but when tho firo was at its height her wardrobe fell from the wreckage, and the jewel case was recovered. As soon as Mrs. Larnach-Nevill discovered the fire she awakened her husband and then aroused tho valet and six women servants. Tho firemen fought tho flames for tho first hour in a snowstorm.