A fire that tore through a historic thatched cottage in Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, has left an elderly couple homeless, with their entire property destroyed in mere minutes.
The couple, Bob and Paula Hessian, had spent 53 years in the home, which dates back to the 17th century.
The fire broke out on the evening of April 5 and spread rapidly, consuming the roof in just eight minutes, causing extensive damage to the loft, first floor, and much of the structure, including the bedrooms, bathrooms, and conservatory.
Unaware of the Fire, the Couple Almost Didn’t Make It Out
The fire’s severity was compounded by the fact that Bob and Paula, both retired professionals, were unaware of the blaze until it was nearly too late.
The thick thatched roof prevented them from hearing the fire, and unfortunately, the smoke detectors failed to go off.
Paula, a former primary school teacher, and Bob, a retired pharmaceutical consultant, had no idea their home was engulfed in flames until a neighbor noticed the fire and called them.
Kate Newman, their daughter, explains that the fire was initially mistaken for a sunset by the neighbor who called Bob. “The flames were the size of a car bonnet,” she recalls.
“She managed to convince them to leave the house, and it’s a miracle they got out when they did.”
Paula, who has limited mobility, was unable to escape without help, and a neighbor drove over to assist her.
A Desperate and Heartbreaking Escape
Bob quickly called the fire brigade while four others also dialed emergency services.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Kate received a call from her father about 15 minutes after the fire service was contacted.
She rushed to the scene, where she was struck by the full extent of the destruction.
“I’ve never had palpitations in my chest like that,” she says. “When I arrived, I realized this wasn’t just a small fire—the whole roof was gone.”
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two days, and the cause remains undetermined.
While Kate speculates it could have been an electrical fire, the fire service was unable to confirm due to the rapid nature of the fire.
Sadly, only about 20% of the house remains intact.
Heartbreaking Loss of Memories and Belongings
Kate explains how devastating it has been for her parents, who have lost irreplaceable items, including family photos, heirlooms, and cherished personal belongings.
“My dad had pictures of us growing up. They were from a time before digital cameras, and now they’re all gone,” Kate says.
“It’s devastating for me and my brother, but we still have our parents, and that’s what matters most.”
The couple is currently staying with Kate, and while they are grateful to be alive, the emotional toll is immense.
The fire has taken away not only their home but also memories they can never get back.
“If you were younger, you might be able to rebuild some memories, but there are things we’ll never replace,” Kate adds.
Insurance Woes Make Recovery Even More Challenging
To make matters worse, the Hessians cannot claim on insurance due to the roof needing re-thatching.
Despite plans to replace the thatched roof with tiles in May—an expensive renovation that would have cost around £85,000—insurance companies do not cover thatched properties unless the roof is in good condition.
The Hessians had been in the process of replacing the roof when the fire struck, leaving them in an even more difficult situation.
Kate explains how rare it is to find insurance for thatched cottages and how expensive the upkeep can be.
“We were so close to having it changed. It’s heartbreaking, but at least we still have our parents,” she says. “That’s the most important thing to me.”
A Community Rallying Behind the Hessians
Despite the loss, Kate and her family are determined to support her parents.
She and her brother plan to help with rebuilding their home, even if it means learning new skills like bricklaying and plastering.
“We’ll spend weekends working on it until it’s done,” she says.
Kate has also set up a GoFundMe to help with the rebuilding process, emphasizing how important it is to rebuild not just their home but their sense of security and stability.
“The most important thing is that we have our parents,” Kate says.
“Everything else we can try to rebuild, but you can’t do it without them.”