Fire at historic Welsh ex-hotel Bontddu Hall kills one

June 6, 2020

A fire broke out yesterday at Hall near  in, Wales. The historic mansion is a former hotel with high-profile guests. A rescued woman died at the scene. were called to the building, located off the overlooking the  Estuary in, at 09:09am local time. Resources sent included from Dolgellau,, , , and  according to a fire service statement, as well as an , high volume pump, and the service's.

Police, the ambulance service, and an also attended. Photos and video from the blaze showed thick smoke with flames visible at windows. The fire service indicated an investigation working alongside was underway. Bontddu Hall recently underwent building work and scaffolding was still erected at the time of the fire. Bontddu Hall dates to 1873, originally a 20-room mansion, and was a country retreat for the Mayor of Birmingham called Bryn Tirion before becoming a hotel. Guests include regular visitor ex-UK Prime Minister and actor  who stayed at Bontddu Hall while filming his 1949 movie debut .

The hotel closed around fifteen years ago, with local press reporting in 2004 then-new owner Tong Yung-soo, who had purchased Bontddu Hall in 2001, and his wife applied to make it a residence once more. The move was met with what WalesOnline called "fury" from local tourism chiefs. The then-manager of Barmouth Publicity and Director of Mid Wales Tourism Partnership, David Clay, called it "a retrograde step" and said "[a]n area like this cannot afford to lose such a quality hotel."

The Tongs indicated issues staffing the hotel, something Clay recognised, and Mr Tong had said they intended to "restore the hall to its former glory." Following the hotel's closure it has remained a private home.