FIRE ravaged a listed, thatched family home in Martin last week, leaving just a shell.
The blaze started in a chimney and spread to the roof of Paxbridge Cottage, which was well alight by the time firefighters arrived.
Ashley Brown, of Paddock House, Martin, raised the alarm just before 6pm on Wednesday, after noticing smoke seeping from the property.
Crews from ten divisions across the area attended, including those of Fordingbridge, Salisbury and Ringwood.
They spent the first hour trying to salvage items.
By 9.30pm, the thatched roof had collapsed through the first floor of the house and the salvage operation was abandoned.
The main road through the village and the east Martin road remained closed for several hours.
The property was home to a couple with two children.
No one was in at the time of the blaze.
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