A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after an inferno ravaged a listed building.

Nearly a third of the county’s fire crews were called out as flames roared through the Grade Two listed Node Court in Codicote, where an estimated 70 firefighters battled the blaze.

Modelled on the country retreat of Queen Marie Antoinette, Hameau de la Reine, the building had a thatched roof which burned for hours on Sunday, suffering a partial collapse.

A 23-year-old from Whitwell was arrested yesterday on suspicion of arson and has been bailed until August 25.

The mock-dairy, which now provides office space for an American firm called Kronos, had previously caught fire in 1996.

One neighbour said: “It was horrendous. I don’t remember having as many fire engines there when it went up 20 years ago. I don’t think the main house was quite as bad last time.

“It was a frightening thing but the firemen were fantastic.”

Isobel Barnes, 74, lives close to the scene and also remembers the previous inferno.

She said: “I think this was bigger than last time and it was in a pretty poor state back then by my recollection.”

Mrs Barnes, who directs a charity that uses nearby land for horticultural therapy, said fire crews had to rush to and from the site gathering water.

She continued: “I saw all these fire engines going backwards and forwards.

“We have to transport all our water to our site in the back of our car and I finally realised that the fire engines were doing what we have to do, going elsewhere to get the water and coming back.”

Another neighbour described the moment he realised the listed building was ablaze.

He said: “I thought it was the bin men coming at first but when I looked out at about 5am there were fire engines over there and smoke billowing out.

“The fire engines woke me up, you could hear them on the gravel. They were all over the place. I believe there were 70 firemen.”

After the inferno was reported at 3.08am, fire crews from around Hertfordshire were called out, coming from as far away as Rickmansworth, 26 miles away.

Most crews had left the scene by 5.15pm on Sunday, but one remained there overnight to keep watch.

Roy Wilsher, who heads up Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters had stopped the flames consuming the whole roof by cutting breaks in it.

He said: “The crews did a superb job. Thatched roofs are particularly difficult to fight because they are designed to keep out water so you have to get into them.

“The crews worked extremely hard and were well supported by Ringway, the highways contractor, and by neighbours, so we’d like to thank them.”

Anyone who witnessed or may have information about the fire is asked to call police on 101.

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