Fire devastates 16th century London pub

A heritage-listed London pub thought to date back to around the 16th century has been damaged in a fire. The blaze on Friday night damaged three floors and destroyed the roof of the grade II-listed Burn Bullock in Mitcham, south-west London, that was reportedly visited by a British king. King George IV "briefly frequented" the institution that was a meeting place during the Napoleonic Wars, according to Merton Council's local heritage service. The left wing of the three-storey property dates between the 16th and 17th century and the front between the early and mid-18th century, according to Historic England's official list entry. Historic England has listed the Burn Bullock on its Heritage at Risk Register which states it was in "very bad" condition and "had been illegally occupied as a House in Multiple Occupation and has suffered associated deterioration". Julia Gault, secretary of Mitcham Cricket Club which is across the car park from the pub, said the property had been occupied by squatters for a decade. She said: "We've been sitting next door to what has been going on since 2009 - watching a listed building fall into a greater state of dilapidation. "Since it closed in 2014 it has been occupied by various collections of people who have been reported locally as squatters." An "unauthorised car sales business" has been operating from the rear car park, she claimed, adding "there were more cars than I had seen there in ages" when she drove past on Friday evening before the fire broke out.