An investigation will be carried out into the cause of a blaze at the former Ramsgate home of 60/70s wrestling star Jackie Pallo.
Three fire engines and the height vehicle attended the scene as yet another fire took hold at the derelict property off Haine Road yesterday (July 30).
Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to the property at 12.14pm. Kent Police assisted and a road closure was put in place while crews dealt with the incident.
Firefighters finished at the scene at 2.30pm and the road was reopened. No injuries were reported and KFRS said the cause was unknown.
An update from the fire service says: “An investigation will take place into the cause of the blaze.”
Kent Police has been asked for further information.
An application to create six homes at the site was refused by Thanet councillors last year due to concerns about pedestrian and cyclist access.
The property, set in extensive grounds, belonged to the famed 60s and 70s wrestling star until his death, aged 80, from cancer in 2006.
His son, Jackie Jnr, and wife Trixie continued to live at the property. Trixie died in 2013. The property was put on the market in 2018.
The four-bed home was also gutted by fire in March 2018, believed to have been deliberately set. Ramsgate and Margate crews were called to the site with 16 firefighters and four fire engines at the scene during the height of the blaze.
The cause of that fire was recorded as unknown. The property, which was once known for the huge amount of rusting Saabs parked on its grounds, was cleared of rubbish prior to an auction open day in 2017 but remains in a dilapidated state and has attracted flytipping.
Jackie Pallo Snr, known as “Mr TV” was famous for his feud with wrestler Mick McManus.
The welterweights had two hard-fought draws on the afternoons of the 1963 and 1965 Cup Finals.
The pair fought in two televised matches ending in draws, to set up the 1963 Cup Final Day match, which McManus won by stoppage. The bout attracted around five million viewers.
They had a famous rematch at the Royal Albert Hall in 1967, again ending with a stoppage victory for McManus.
Trixie became known as The First Lady of Wrestling for her continued ringside appearance at her husband’s fight and Jackie Jnr was also a wrestler and the pair formed the first father and son tag team.
Jackie Snr was also a favourite with crowds at Merrie England in Ramsgate, Margate Winter Gardens and the Oval bandstand ring in Cliftonville.
He retired from wrestling in 1983. Flamboyant Pallo Snr also starred on TV, appearing beside Honor Blackman in The Avengers and in Are You Being Served? He also wrote an autobiography, You Grunt, I’ll Groan.
Find Urbex footage from the property at https://youtu.be/830PjHlEoJs
