Flag Fen hope Iron Age roundhouse makes Christmas comeback
The building was destroyed by fire earlier this year
An Iron Age roundhouse near Peterborough destroyed by suspected arsonists could be ready in time for Christmas.
The building at Flag Fen Archaeology Park was targeted in July and since then, £18,000 has been raised to help rebuild it thanks to public and business support.
"We've not only replaced the roundhouse that burnt with one, but we've started on a second one as well," Jacqui Mooney, general manager at Flag Fen, said.
"Phoenix from the flames, we lose one roundhouse and we gain two, and we've also gained support, love and lots of new volunteers."
The roundhouse that was burnt down was built in 2022, something Flag Fen say was used by more than 10,000 children a year to help with their education.
At the time of the fire, archaeologist Francis Pryor MBE - who led the original excavations at Flag Fen in 1982 - said on Flag Fen's fundraising page that the blaze has led to “a devastating loss."
But since August, volunteers and local community groups have stepped in to rebuild the roundhouse, which was expected to take nine months.
"If you know how to make the structure, the walls, once you've learned how to thatch, you're away and we're using all local materials," Ms Mooney said.
"The fun part of a school visit is when they sit in the roundhouse around a fire and listen to a story, and thanks to the generosity of local people and businesses, it means all those schoolchildren still get to do that."
Ms Mooney said the Iron Age roundhouse will "probably be ready for December", with a similar structure also planned for early next year.