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Celebrating Heritage, Promoting Our Future

High Street: Hope from the ashes

Image: High Street closed
Midnight
 Image: Firefighters prepare
street closed
 image: Fire fighting
Firefighters prepare
 image: High Street fire
Fire fighting
 Image: new scaffolding
Lowestoft High Street fire
 Image: scaffolding
New scaffolding
 image: scaffolding higher
Image: High Street scaffolding
 Image: scaffolding almost there
High Street gets higher
 Image: scaffolding almost there
scaffolding almost there
 image: the roof starts
scaffolding almost there
 image: roof finished
High Street: the roof starts
 Image: street view
High Street: roof finished
 Image: all done
Mural to be done?
 image: potential problem
High Street covered

On Saturday 3rd June 2023 disaster hit Lowestoft's High Street, but all is not doom and gloom.  

145, High Street suffered a crippling fire. At least two people were rescued by firefighters. Nine fire appliances of various types attended. Electricity was turned off for part of the High Street for a few hours. Not only did the flat-dwellers lose their homes, but High Street Furnishings lost their shop and store.  

The fire destroyed the top floor, and severe water damage affected the rest of the building. 

The fire was declared 'extinguished' later the next day, and the whole building fenced off, and marked as dangerous. 

Many feared the building was too far gone to be re-built. 

But there's hope yet. Around a month ago, new scaffolders appeared. And they built an enormous steel structure, reaching well above chimney height. They roofed it, and encased the whole thing in plastic tarpaulin. The gusty winds last night (18/9/2023) had a good go at one corner of the fabric. 

From the scaffold erection it has been deduced that some kind of re-build is in the offing. It's understood Jason Taylor is current owner. 

Chris, who owns High Street Furnishings, has started to move some of his recoverable stock into 141 High Street, just down the street. He hopes to re-open in the next few weeks. 

Other High Street news. 

From the sad remains of the recently closed The Grit comes 'Moral of the Story' and Guitar Doctor UK. Moral of the Story will be a bookshop, and Guitar Doctor – and having watched Andy at work, I have to say, lovingly - mends guitars and amplifiers and the like. They will occupy 132 High Street, NR32 1HP. Welcome.

chris furnishings
145
High Street
Lowestoft
United Kingdom

52.482016109067, 1.7558362926597

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