Woolsington Hall is burning down, as some of those who commented previously on the Save Woolsington Woods petition foresaw. Firefighters are currently tackling the blaze, which engulfed the Grade II listed building late yesterday evening. Fire crews were said to have arrived at the former 17th century hunting lodge at 8:33pm and Northumbria Police were notified at 8:57pm but did not attend the scene. Police were informed by fire services that investigations were conducted and the incident was not deemed ‘malicious’ or ‘suspicious’. Flying embers and thick smoke billowed from windows and doors as the roof fell in on what was once a much-loved family home before it was purchased by Sir John Hall and allowed to fall into disrepair. As winds of up to 120mph and flooding rains are forecast to batter Britain, this is one battle emergency services could have done without. It remains to be seen whether there will be a full investigation into the cause of the fire. The controversial enabling development was set to destroy the woodland in order to restore the hall, yet there is now no hall now to be restored.