A 147-year-old listed building in the heart of a Dundee park has been badly damaged in a fire.
A fire broke out in the old Sluice House – known locally as the Round House – at Clatto Country Park around 9.30pm on Saturday.
It took firefighters around an hour and a half to extinguish the blaze.
At the height of the fire, dense black smoke and flames could be seen from various points in the city.
Roof destroyed
The extent of the damage is not yet known but it is suspected that the roof has been completely destroyed.
It is not yet known if the fire is being treated as suspicious.
Local environmentalist group, Friends of Clatto, say they are devastated at the damage.
Devastating
Secretary of the group, Dorothy McHugh said: “This is devastating news.
“The 147-year-old Sluice House is part of the historic fabric of the reservoir and still performs a function in lowering the water levels.”
Dorothy said that the building was Category B Listed building.
“It’s part of the city’s heritage, but has appeared uncared for over a number of years, shut away behind a recently unpadlocked ugly metal gate.”
She added: “FOC has been working to raise awareness of the historic structures around the reservoir, with the long term aim of restoring these to their former state.
“We have recently cleared rhododendron branches that were threatening the Victorian gate piers and wrought iron railings at the reservoir’s North entrance.
“Let’s hope Dundee City Council can repair the fire damage and restore this lovely building.”
Dorothy said that on inspection this morning group members had found the roof collapsed in, door and windows destroyed.
She said: “This means access is now open for access to what is a dangerous location.
“We are hoping that the debris left from the fire can be saved for the restoration of the building and not just dumped.”
A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said they received reports of the fire at the Sluice House at 9.27pm on Saturday.
He said: “We sent one appliance from Blackness Road. Firefighters using a variety of equipment managed to put out the fire just before 10pm.”
The Sluice House is sited on artificial mound at head of reservoir. It is a circular single-storey structure.
It has a Conical slate roof with timber finial.
It was built in 1874 to regulate water pressure on its way from Lintrathen – the water from there is what feeds Dundee’s homes.
In recent days FOC issued a warning to youngsters to take care as they were diving into the reservoir from the sluice tower, sited in the water.
Dorothy said: “After our warning about 50 young people gathered at the reservoir on Saturday night – swimming, diving and listening to music.”
‘It’s dangerous’: Warning as boys use tower at Clatto Reservoir in Dundee as diving platform