Major fire this morning - roof of the great hall has gone. Lets hope that most of the organ was safely tucked up in Browne's workshop
This has appeared on Facebook. No doubt more accurate information will emerge in the coming days/weeks;
Dear friends: Tonight, one of England's finest concert halls, Battersea Arts Centre, was gutted by a huge fire. Thankfully, the historic 1900 Hope-Jones organ (the largest and most significant survivor of that maverick genius's work) had mostly been removed for restoration and so has escaped the fire - but the Grand Hall has been completely destroyed, the roof and ceiling completely gone, and so one must presume the organ cases and building frames have been reduced to ashes. The reservoirs, relays and console remained on-site below the stage: their state remains unclear. They may have survived, but heat, smoke and water may have caused significant damage. The Arts Centre will rise again, but it needs your support: a fundraising page has been set up at https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org/BAC012#.VQN2GEZFCSE - please consider giving whatever you feel would be an appropriate donation to ensure that the phoenix does indeed rise from the ashes...