What happened at Windsor Castle in 1992?

Windsor Castle is the official residence of the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth II, at the time). Generation after generation of royalty has added elements to the castle for centuries - the structure has stood strong and survived throughout the years, including through war.

On 20 November 1992 a fire broke out in the Queen’s Private Chapel, spreading quickly throughout the Brunswick Tower and neighbouring rooms. The fire destroyed 105 rooms and caused extensive damage elsewhere.

The estate had a 20-strong firefighting crew who were quick to respond, attending the fire within eight minutes. They were later joined by a further 225 firefighters who battled the blaze while others attempted to save the many priceless artefacts.

How did the 1992 Windsor Castle fire start?

The fire began when a hot lamp/spotlight ignited part of the curtain fabric, which it had been left pressed up against.

What can the industry learn from the 1992 Windsor Castle fire?

The fire spread so rapidly due to a lack of fire stopping in cavities and roof voids. One fifth of the castle was damaged or destroyed by the fire (covering 9,000 sq metres). It took 12 hours and one million gallons of water to fully extinguish the fire.

The total cost of the repair was circa £37m over a five-year period.