Foundation decries 'criminal act of vandalism' after separate fires in derelict buildings at Boleskine House; Scottish Fire and Rescue Service units from Inverness and Foyers extinguish blazes; Police Scotland investigating
POLICE were probing a second blaze at Boleskine House the notorious former home of the late Aleister Crowley the Loch Ness-side author and occultist and self-styled “wickedest man in the world”.
A fire service spokesman said they had to tackle separate fires in two derelict buildings at the site – the fire damaged main building and nearby coach-house.
Boleskine House, which for a time was owned by rock superstar Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, was badly damaged by a blaze in 2015 and the ruin near Foyers was sold earlier this year to an overseas buyer.
The Boleskine House Foundation, set up to try and restore the historic mansion, said they believe the fire was a “criminal act of vandalism.”
Police attended the blaze about 4pm on Wednesday while three fire units from Inverness and one from Foyers fought the flames, bringing both fires under control by 6.32pm.
Two firefighters using breathing apparatus were involved in tackling the fire along with two main jets, and two hose reel jets. A thermal imaging camera was also deployed looking for hotspots in the ruins.
The Friends of Boleskine House later posted on Facebook that the coach house had been saved but what was left of the roof of Boleskine House had collapsed.
Crowley, who died in 1947, was infamous in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century for his promotion of the occult.
Crowley was also an experienced climber and was part of an ill-fated attempt to scale K2, in modern day Pakistan, in 1902.
Jimmy Page bought Boleskine House in the 1970s because of the Crowley connection, before later selling it.
