Janice R. Andrews
At the location of the former Broadmoor Hospital, which housed infamous criminals, on Chaplains Hill in Crowthorne, Berkshire, a fire has broken out. Shortly after 09:30 BST, flames were seen in a deserted building on the former hospital property.
About forty firefighters are reportedly battling to put out a well-developed fire that they discovered in the structure, according to the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. It’s anticipated that crews will stay at the area for a while. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries.
There is no concern to patients or workers at the new Broadmoor Hospital as the authorities have certified that the fire is not at the existing hospital location. As a precaution, locals have been told to avoid the area and to keep their doors and windows closed.
Officers from Thames Valley Police are also on the scene.
Constructed in 1863, the Grade II-listed former Broadmoor Hospital served as the nation’s inaugural institution for the mentally ill, providing shelter to notorious criminals like Peter Sutcliffe and mobster Ronnie Kray. Patients and staff were moved from the historic building to a new £250 million high-security prison specifically intended for individuals held under the Mental Health Act after the site closed its doors in 2019.
