Family fighting back as Clockhouse Inn rebuild nears completion one year after fire

Now, the Long family is gearing up for moving back into the new Clockhouse Inn, with the rebuild expected to be completed by July.

Yesterday Mike Long, his wife Helen and daughters Charlotte and Jessica, walked around their home one year on from the fire - as they start to focus on the future, rather than the fire.

Mr Long said: “This time last year we thought that’s it, we’re never getting our home back. But now we can see it all coming together and it’s a bit overwhelming.

“The belief is now there that it will be back. To see walls up and the roof on is ridiculous really if I think where we were one year ago. We cannot put into words just how we feel.”

The new thatch at the Clockhouse Inn

Mr Long is now waiting for the completion of his new home and business and cannot wait to welcome back the public.

“It was never going to be done quick enough for us,” he said. “ It will be done when it’s done - it will take as long as it takes. We walk around upstairs and we have level floors and the walls are level now. We found some old stone work that we are going to keep on view and a lot of the old wooden beams will be used.”

The Longs needed to be confident about the safety of their home before wanting to move back in.

Helen Long said: “We did have to think about whether we would all feel safe living here.

“That thought did enter our heads after what we have been through. The girls can feel extremely safe now and we are much more protected from anything happening.”

A fire proof delta membrane has now been installed between each floor of the building to protect the whole house, while the chimney where the blaze started will not be used again.

Mr Long added: “The chimney where the fire was has been condemned by the fire service.

“We were told the fire place was too big for the chimney. The big fire will no longer be used.”

Mr Long hopes to be able to light a fire in the future, but knows it will be a big step.

“We might be confident enough to have a fire running here again,” he added. “We will just have to wait and see how we feel.

Work being completed at the Clockhouse Inn

“I hope we light the fire in the future. People want to come in and sit by the fire. If it was never lit again, I think people would understand why that is.

Mr Long is looking ahead to reopening his business in time for the summer and has a few surprises for the pub.

He added: “The community has been absolutely brilliant with all the help they have given us.

“I want everyone to see what we have done as they have all contributed and they all have the right to come and see it.

“We want as many people as possible to celebrate with us.”