A RAGING fire has left a treasured Grade II listed town-house in Harlington in ruins.

Investigators say the blaze was started deliberately.

Dower House, in Harlington High Street, went up in flames at about 8.45am last Friday. Crews were still hosing down the smouldering remains well into the afternoon.

The roof collapsed, though most of the damage was at the front of the house.

The high street was cordoned off for hours while emergency services battled to get the blaze under control, and Hillingdon Council has since set up a scaffold around the structure to make it safe.

Forty firefighters from eight west London stations were called to deal with the blaze.

Keith Stringer, 53, who has lived opposite Dower House for 30 years, said: "I knew Don, the previous owner, and he would have been so sad to see it in this state.

"Anyone who lives around here will tell you that it is part of the village, and it added a lot of character to the area.

"It is one of the last remaining structures from an era gone by, and now it has gone up in smoke. Everyone is so disappointed. I just hope that it gets put back the way it was."

Dower House was listed in 1949, and the front part, which was most badly damaged, was built in the 16th century.

The rear extensions are thought to date from between the 17th and early 19th centuries.

Lucie Males, whose father, Donald Grimston, owned the house for 40 years until his death six years ago, told the Gazette: "It was a well-loved home that was not only steeped in history but in memories also.

"So many people have passed through the doors of Dower House and helped create those memories. We will not be the only people to be saddened at this terrible news."

The current owner had grand plans for the house, and submitted an application to make it the lobby for a new, three-storey hotel on the Green Belt land behind the house. The proposals were withdrawn in February.

More recently, residents clubbed together to oppose scaled-down plans to turn the house into an eight-room hotel.

The council received a petition with 80 signatures, and at a planning meeting in March refused permission for the conversion.

Once investigators have finished at the site it will be handed back to its owner, who will be responsible for restoration work, the council said.

Detective Sergeant David Brathwaite said: "This fire started in the morning, in broad daylight.

"It is a busy area with a bus route and road traffic.

"It is likely that there would have been pedestrians and drivers who may have seen someone loitering in the area at the time or perhaps they were seen running away from the building.

"We would like to speak to anyone who may have any information about this fire, regardless of how insignifi-cant it may seem."

* Anyone with information can call 020 8246 1472 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.