'Cottages fire still heart-breaking one year on'

The owner of a thatched cottage which was one of five destroyed by fire said the event was "still heart-breaking" one year on, but there was "light at the end of the tunnel" with the chance to rebuild.

Rob Frankson and his wife Jenny lost their home when a row of Grade II-listed cottages went up in flames on Low Street in Bardwell, Suffolk, on 19 April 2025.

All the residents were left homeless after the blaze, caused by a chimney ember igniting the thatch, destroyed the roofs and first floors.

Planning permission is now being sought to rebuild the properties, which, if granted, will give those affected by the devastation the chance to "start again", said Rob.

If the project is given the green light by West Suffolk Council later this month, it is hoped work on rebuilding the homes – which will not have thatched roofs - can begin in the summer.

"You go through shock and it takes a while to come out the other side - it's taken us a year to get through that grieving process," said Rob, whose family has been living in Bury St Edmunds for the past year.

"It is a physical loss, and it is still heart-breaking, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I think we're coming through it now.

"We carry on and we start again, and we're now starting to think of all the good things that we can do with the property."

Following the fire, which also left a young couple with a newborn baby having to find somewhere else to stay, the community rallied round to support those affected.

With the help of Bardwell Parish Council and the generosity of villagers, £49,000 was raised, which was split equally between the cottage owners.

David Ruffles, chairman of the council, said he was "not totally surprised" by how everyone came together.

"In a way, it was probably a good place for this happen, because this village has got a really strong community," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"We were getting offers of help while they were still trying to put the fire out, so it was a phenomenal effort."

As many as 16 firefighter crews swarmed the scene on the day the fire took hold, which, up until that point, had been "a normal, quiet Saturday afternoon", said Ruffles.

"I think 19 April will stick in the memory for an awfully long time. It was such a devastating day - a truly awful day."

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