Teenager charged after massive blaze at historic century-old convent

A teenager has been arrested and charged following a fire at a 138-year-old Dumfries landmark.

The historic former convent on Corbelly Hill, near the town’s Maxwell Street, was engulfed in flames in the early hours of August 9.

The property was the setting for Peter Mullan’s 2002 film The Magdalene Sisters, and dates back to 1884.

It has been abandoned for a number of years and attempts to sell the property twice, in 2008 and 2020 failed.

Police Scotland confirmed on Tuesday that a 19-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident.

SFRS

A statement by the force read: “Police in Dumfries can confirm that a 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire at the convent on Maxwell Street, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and he is expected to appear at court at a later date.”

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