Investigations are continuing into the cause of a fire at a former gym in Newcastle.
The building on Bemersyde Drive, in Jesmond, went up in flames in the early hours of Monday.
The site is at the back of Grade II* listed Jesmond Towers, the former La Sagesse school.
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Jeff Winn, who converted the school into a luxury home some years ago, said everyone was safe and the main house had not been damaged.
He told ChronicleLive he received a call about the fire whilst on holiday in Thailand.
He said: "We don't know what the cause is as yet. We are waiting for the fire service and police to tell us the cause.
"The fire was in a building that was an old gym built for the school.
"It's not part of the Grade II* listed building - it's separate from the house and there has been no damage to the house.
"We are all safe. Everyone was away from the house."
He said the site was to be assessed to see how much damage had been caused and if the former gym would have to be demolished or not.
Crews from Gosforth and Newcastle Central Community Fire Stations were called to the scene just after 1.30am on Monday.
They used specialist equipment and an aerial ladder platform to extinguish the blaze.
More than 30 firefighters were on scene for a number of hours who were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.
