Cambridgeshire Police have released CCTV images of four people they wish to speak to following an arson attack at the Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre in Peterborough. The incident occurred shortly before 10pm on 13 July, when several huts at the site in The Droveway, Northey Road, were deliberately set alight.
The fire destroyed a replica Iron Age roundhouse, constructed in 2022 by 30 volunteers with funding from Arts Council England, the Francis and Maisie Pryor Charitable Trust, and Tyrrell Builders. The thatched structure, based on an authentic Iron Age design, featured log seating, a fire pit, and daub walls, and played a key role in educational programs, welcoming around 10,000 schoolchildren annually.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service responded with four crews from Dogsthorpe, Stanground, and Whittlesey, extinguishing the blaze by 11pm. Firefighters and police have confirmed the fire was deliberately started, with initial investigations indicating vandalism or intentional arson, rather than any broader ideological motive.
Site manager Jacqueline Mooney described the incident as “devastating,” echoing archaeologist Francis Pryor MBE, who called the loss a major blow to public education on Iron Age life. Despite the setback, Flag Fen remains open, with reconstruction underway. Over £18,000 has been raised through emergency appeals, and volunteers have begun rebuilding the roundhouse, expected to reopen by mid-2026.
Police are urging anyone with information about the arson, or who recognises anyone pictured in the released CCTV, to report details online quoting crime reference 35/52237/25 or call 101 if internet access is unavailable.
