Demolition starts on fire-ravaged historical pub

Work has begun to demolish a historical pub which burnt down last year.

An inquest heard the Grade II listed Chequers Inn in Wootton, near Bedford, was set alight by the landlord, who later shot himself and died.

David Palmer, 64, the director of the company that owns the pub's freehold, said architects were drawing up plans for a replacement pub.

"It may be a pub or hotel or it might be a pub with accommodation but there are lots of different things we are looking at" he added.

Palmer said planning permission and listed building consent was required to have the 17th Century pub torn down which he described as "incredibly sad".

An application was submitted to Bedford Borough Council which said all the first floor and roof timbers were destroyed in the blaze on 19 September.

The property developer recalled that "it was a popular venue, not just as a pub but also where people came and rode horses in the field behind."

The Chequers was not trading when Palmer bought it "for sentimental reasons" in 2009.

He described the landlord Hervé Louis Appert, who took on the pub about three years ago, as "a real character" but suggested "he went through a difficult patch leading up to his death".

"We are very close to Universal Studios which is about a mile away and we are hoping that whoever runs the pub will exploit that opportunity", said Palmer.

"We have had a number of enquiries from people interested in running it."

Demolition work is due to last three weeks but Palmer said it could be a year before a new pub is built.

Resident Lyn Alder said the whole village was "aghast" when the pub burnt down but a new one would be "fabulous".

She hoped that some of the history of the Chequers Inn would be kept and put on display in the new pub.

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