Fire outside the National Archives

[ElizabethHerts]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26208830

They closed the building.

[kiterunner]

I was looking at that earlier, Elizabeth. Thankfully they said nothing in the archives was damaged.

[Kit]

So glad nothing was damaged. Think of all the history that could be lost.

[Lindsay]

I do wonder why they built it so close to the river, though.

Presumably they did consider the possibility of flooding...

[Olde Crone]

Lindsay

A flood risk assessment was done in 1969 when the new building was being considered and as a result of the risk assessment, the ground floor was raised.

The site has never been known to flood and frankly, London would be in very serious trouble if TNA flooded!

OC

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by Olde Crone

A flood risk assessment was done in 1969 when the new building was being considered and as a result of the risk assessment, the ground floor was raised.
OC

I thought they must have done, but it's nice to have it confirmed, given the events of the last few weeks!

[Just Gillian]

A bit off-topic, but I was reading today about the 1928 flood of central London -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26153241

The Tate was one of the buildings flooded and many of its works were stored in the lower ground floor! Presumably the riverbank was thought to be unbreachable.

[Lindsay]

Thanks for posting that - a very interesting link, Gillian.

[Janet]

A riveting read. Thanks, Elizabeth for the thread; and Gillian for the other link.