Since first reporting the fire at the Rosswyn Hotel the day after that dreadful night two months ago, emails have arrived from all over the world asking for future progress reports. Today, Monday 10th January, exactly two months after the disaster I returned to speak to Rose and Pam and to photograph progress made so far in restoring the historic building to its former glory, and the building's future reopening as a hotel and pub.

The work has been taking place in phases. Phase one, which was completed before Christmas included the removal of charcoal remains such as the bar plus items of furniture and equipment. Anything which looked repairable went into storage, to be restored at a later date. Hopefully, 'Ken Phelps' Chair' (The Captain's Chair in the front seating area) is going to be fully restorable.

Phase two involved a level of cleaning up - sandblasting walls and a first stage clean up of the medieval carvings. It is so far looking hopeful that these will be fully restorable to their former glory.

Currently, building specifications have been set and are going out to tender. Tenders from respective contractors have to be submitted within the next three weeks. As these three weeks have to be waited out in full, further work is currently on hold.

It is now certain that the fire was started by an electrical fault.

Entering the building today to take the photographs below, I was surprised just how much the smell of the fire had lingered. On returning home, l could still smell it on my clothes.

The photograph above shows the original damage to the medieval carvings. Below are three of the photographs I took today - the carvings in their current state of restoration, a view of the bar area and the front seating area.

More news will follow in February as further work takes place and hopefully by then, some news of a reopening date for the Rosswyn Hotel will be available.

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