Teenager arrested on suspicion of arson after manor house blaze
A 14-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze at a Grade I-listed manor house.
Listen to this article
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.
Detective Inspector 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."
Read more: Lucy Connolly freed from jail after race-hate social media post in the wake of Southport murders
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 and extensively renovated by architect Robert Adams.
It has been home to several notable figures including Earl of Sefton and Liverpool shipowner Frederick Richards Leyland.
Prior to being abandoned, Woolton Hall was used as a school from the 1950s.
Local campaigners have been calling for it to be saved for a number of years over the condition of the building.
Historic England declared the building an "immediate risk" in 2021 after its condition deteriorated.
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.