FOURTEEN pallets-worth of materials have been salvaged from a fire-ravaged historic building in Bury St Edmunds.

The debris from Cupola House in The Traverse, Bury St Edmunds, is being stored at a warehouse in the area after being painstakingly removed from the site after the blaze in June this year. The salvaged materials - which will either be used in the rebuild or used as templates - include decorative elements, such as moulds, part of the cupola which stood on top of the building and timbers.

Christine Leveson, conservation officer at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “When you see it all in one place like that you realise how much actually has been saved and compared to the pile of debris at the back [of the building] I think they did really well to get out what they did to be honest.”

Ben Whatling, contracts manager with Seamans Building, which recovered the debris and is storing it, added how some materials were still on site, such as parts of the staircase.

Miss Leveson said wallpaper dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries had also been discovered.

David Clarke, who is consultant engineer for the project, said currently a planning application for the rebuild was being worked on. Cupola House, which was built in the 17th century and was most recently home to Italian restaurant Strada, is owned by OMC Investments.