A FIRE caused extensive damage to the roof of Manor Farm, a large 17th century house in Sherston on Monday, although the rest of the building was saved.

After starting in an upstairs bathroom, the fire spread to the roof of the three-storey house, in Court Street, just after 1.30pm on Monday.

Fire crews arrived soon after and Divisional Officer Les Sharpe from Devizes HQ said the last crews left the house at about 10.30am on Tuesday.

"Overnight the crews were damping down, cutting away and looking for hot spots," he said.

Around 50 firefighters, six engines, from Swindon, Cirencester, Malmesbury, Chippenham and Yate, as well as four support units and a fire investigations team, were used.

The house is leased out to tenants but belongs to Sherston resident, Richard Sidebottom, who did not want to comment on the fire.

Acting Leading Firefighter Chris Thomas, of Malmesbury, was part of the first unit to arrive.

"There was very thick smoke coming from the roof of the building," he said. "A lot of smoke was coming from underneath the Cotswold-style tiles."

Divisional Officer Rob Jackson, who was in charge of the firefighting operation, said the fire crews had two priorities when they arrived at the scene.

"One was to stop the fire spreading and the other was to limit the potential for damage to belongings," he said.

DO Jackson said: "Manor Farm is a huge old stone building with a stone slate roof.

"There is damage to the timbers and tiling in the main roof, and to the ceiling in the main building.

"Although the roof was well alight we stopped the fire from coming down from the roof part and spreading."

DO Sharpe added: "It was difficult, and to get access into the roof space so we cut a ventilation area so we could get into the roof."

He said hot spots were still smouldering in timber beams in the roof.

Maureen Wright, who lives in Cliff Road, Sherston, and her daughter Nicola, saw the fire from Nicola's kitchen window.

"It was quite some time before the smoke began to subside.

"If the fire brigade had not got here quickly I think the whole lot would have gone up in flames," said Mrs Wright.

Roger Ashley, a retired Oxford University history lecturer who is based in Sherston, said the main part of the Manor Farm building dates from the 1600s. The building had a facelift during the Georgian period in the 1700s and wings were added in the 19th century.