River Cottage

Front of house manager Steve Lamb, who has worked with Hugh since 1998, was at the scene on Tuesday night and reflects on a dramatic week at River Cottage HQ:

There is no doubt that the destruction of our barn by fire was a shocking and traumatic event.

Witnessing the flames rip through the iconic building was a raw experience.

When the fire really took hold you could hear the oak beam structure of the roof groaning as if it was letting it out its last few breaths. Glass exploded and tiles fell.

It was fierce and intense.

I was standing just a few safe metres away beyond the cordon of fire fighters as they tried all they could to attend to it.

Around me were the recognisable faces of colleagues, each one of them with the same desperate expression blinking in the flashing blue lights.

Our barn had stood on that spot for over 400 years and then it was gone.

In the light of the following day the aftermath brought sickeningly more vivid imagery.

The damage was comprehensive, indiscriminate and ruthless.

The walls of the barn had remained upright but everything inside had gone up in smoke. Kitchen utensils and cookery equipment lay twisted and blackened by the ferocity.

Only 24 hours earlier they were significant and had a purpose but were now just charred remains.

For some of the River Cottage team they were seeing the damage for the first time and understandably the emotions take hold.

The effect of fire is more than physical. It was a place of work, learning and celebration. So many people had walked through its doors and enjoyed the embrace of its space. It had been a generous host.

Buildings do have the capacity to evoke deep feelings. We have been inundated with offers of support and help which we are all very moved by.

Each new message feels like a stone or tile being replaced.

It gives us the momentum to carry on.

We may have lost the bricks and mortar but the spirit survives and this is how we move forward. We tend to do so well in moments of adversity and this is a cliché I am delighted to fulfil.

Already we have been working around the clock to find solutions to get us on our feet again.

Where there was sadness and loss there is now a strong optimism.

We may have lost our beloved barn but it is temporary.

It had been lovingly restored once before and so it will again.

We still have use of the farmhouse, and if the work we are putting in now with the help of local experts is realised then we will have an alternative venue on site.

That will allow us to continue to deliver our event and courses before the end of the month (february 24 onwards).

The team are extremely grateful to all of the people who have offered help and also to anyone who has visited us and taken pleasure from being part of what we do.

We are lucky to have your support and friendship.

I have said before that working at River Cottage feels like being in a huge extended family and I am sure that we will be able to invite you all back to our new family home very soon.

New building. New aspect. Same quality.