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BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough appeal for Flag Fen replica roundhouse
An appeal has been made for materials to help rebuild a replica Iron Age thatched roundhouse destroyed in an arson attack. The roundhouse at Flag Fen Archaeology Park, Peterborough, was burnt down on Sunday 12 July. About £13,000 has been raised to help restore the replica and an appeal has now been made for building materials such as string, wood and Police said the incident remained under investigation and no arrests had been made. The roundhouse was one of two replicas at the site. One represented the Bronze Age (2,500 BC - 800 BC) and the other, which has been destroyed, represented the Iron Age (800 BC - AD50). Flag Fen Archaeology Park manager Jacqueline Mooney said it was not "terribly difficult" build a roundhouse but they needed money for materials and volunteers to help rebuild the structure. She said: "It's been so heartening to see what the people of Peterborough and the surrounding area think about Flag Fen and just over £13,000 raised since last Monday evening is awesome... we really feel the love." A fundraising target of £50,000 was set to rebuild the Mooney said they still wanted donations including materials like round wood, wattle, oak or ash coals. '3,000 -year-old porridge' Dr Francis Pryor led the original excavations at Flag Fen in 1982 and said it was right for Peterborough to be "proud" of what it had to remembered discovering the site in November 1982 when his foot hit a piece of wood shaped like a pencil which he realised was a bronze age post. "It's a unique site because of its superb preservation because the site has been waterlogged for 3,000 years this has meant that the water has preserved the sort of stuff that would normally rot [such as wood leaves or grains of pollen]."If we find a bowl or a pot, very often it will have food in it like preserved porridge - 3,000-year-old porridge. "It is a very important site because we have all aspects of life there and you get a uniquely colourful impression of what life was like 3,000 years ago."He urged people to experience the site and its roundhouses."I think it's essential we make the most of it and continue to be proud of the fantastic heritage we have in Peterborough," he added. Cambridgeshire Police said the incident remained under investigation and no arrests had been made. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fire destroys Iron Age roundhouse at Peterborough's Flag Fen
A replica of an Iron Age thatched roundhouse has been destroyed by fire in a suspected arson crews were called to Flag Fen Archaeology Park in Peterborough, at 21:43 BST on Sunday after local people saw flames. According to the park, the blaze "towered 20 metres above the surrounding woodland and the swift action of the fire brigade ensured the rest of the ancient archaeological site didn't catch fire, which would have resulted in the loss of priceless Bronze Age artefacts".Cambridgeshire Fire Service said: "The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate." Flag Fen is an important historical landscape which dates from the Bronze Age and it is the site of many archaeological finds. The site had two replica roundhouses – one representing the Bronze Age (2,500 BC - 800 BC) and the other representing the Iron Age (800 BC - AD50).Flag Fen was planning to construct a third. The roundhouse that has been set on fire was built in 2022 with donations from the Arts Council England, the Francis and Maisie Pryor Charitable Trust and Tyrrell Builders. It was based on an Iron Age roundhouse discovered at Cats Water, next to Flag educational resource allows people to immerse themselves in history and has about 10,000 children visit each year, the park Pryor, who led the original excavations at Flag Fen in 1982, said: "This is a devastating loss to Flag Fen."The roundhouse is an important learning resource for young and old, providing a valuable insight into Iron Age life. "Our primary concern now is to rebuild the roundhouse so that visitors can benefit from this important and unique asset and we experience as little disruption as possible for our educational programme."The park said it would remain open over the summer and fundraising had started for the £50,000 required for a replacement roundhouse. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
ITV News
15-07-2025
- General
- ITV News
Peterborough Flag Fen 'devastated' after suspected arson attack destroys Iron Age roundhouse replica
The owners of an internationally significant archaeological site say they are devastated after a suspected arson attack destroyed an Iron Age roundhouse. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Flag Fen near Peterborough at 9.30pm on Sunday. Onlookers called the fire service after seeing flames above the tree line and two fire engines tackled the blaze, which reached 20 metres above the surrounding woodland. A replica of an Iron Age roundhouse - which had officially opened for visitors in 2022 after being built by volunteers - was "almost completely destroyed", the owners said. Francis Pryor MBE, who led the original excavations at Flag Fen in 1982, said: 'This is a devastating loss to Flag Fen. "The roundhouse is an important learning resource for young and old, providing a valuable insight into Iron Age life. "Our primary concern now is to re-build the roundhouse so that visitors can benefit from this important and unique asset and we experience as little disruption as possible for our educational programme'. Flag Fen's owners said the fire was started by "vandals" in a deliberate arson attack or a prank which went wrong. They thanked the "swift action" of firefighters for preventing the rest of the ancient archeological site from catching fire. The fire service confirmed to ITV News Anglia that the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate. Flag Fen is a site of international significance for its Bronze Age archaeology and an emergency appeal for £50,000 of donations has been launched. Jacqui Mooney, general manager, said: "We are desperate now for support from local businesses who may be able to help us with timber, materials, thatch, scaffold and labour – along with volunteers to help support the build and of course financial support to get the project underway. "We are going to need around £50,000 to replicate the previous roundhouse. "Many children and adults have happy memories of a trip to Flag Fen, if people can manage a donation, no matter the amount, it will be amazing and really help us to continue the magic here for future generations'.
