Owner of Kent Wardrobes in Kingswood shares heartbreak after fire destroyed Maidstone workshop
11:56, 19 September 2019
updated: 20:56, 25 September 2019
The owner of a workshop destroyed by a fire has described the "heartbreaking" moment he saw his whole business burnt to the ground.
Craig Judge arrived at Kent Wardrobes in Kingswood to find fire crew tending the aftermath of a huge blaze.
Man's heartbreak after business destroyed in fire
Mr Judge, 33, said: "When I got there, I saw the whole workshop burnt down to the ground.
"I started working on the place 10 years ago - it took this long to get it how I wanted - and it was just all gone."
Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames at the Gravelly Bottom Road property until late afternoon Saturday, with police also on the scene.
Four fire engines and a bulk water carrier first got the building at 2.20am.
Mr Judge, who lives in Kingswood and runs the company alongside wife Emma, added: "I am absolutely heartbroken.
"Everything I have ever worked for has been destroyed - there's not one screw left."
Seven finished wardrobes were completely burnt in the blaze and there were also 30 customers who had paid deposits.
With the help of his wife and four other staff members, Mr Judge phoned every single one, explained the situation and offered deposit returns or the option to wait a couple more weeks until the business is back up and running.
On top of this, TV screens, a projector, a surround sound system, machinery and power tools were all destroyed.
What started out as an old farm building, Mr Judge had transformed the 5,000 sq ft rented property into a showroom, workshop and storage facility.
The joinery workshop housed a £35,000 edge bander, used to cover the exposed sides of materials such as plywood.
A little showroom containing an office sat alongside a bigger showroom which had just been completed.
The storeroom contained hundreds of sheets of material and there was a tea room for customers.
The father of three began his career as a self-employed carpenter at 19, established CLJ Carpentry in 2007 and began trading as Kent Wardrobes soon after.
He estimates there has been around half a million pounds worth of damage.
A caravan behind the workshop had been broken into and the locks cut on doors of a storage unit and the building next door, so Mr Judge thinks it could have been a burglary.
Eight CCTV cameras were installed in the building, and the CCTV box has been found, however Mr Judge does not know whether any footage has been salvaged.
"We were doing really well, with the company developing and expanding with good turnover. Luckily, we have enough in the bank to get things up and running again", said Mr Judge.
The team, who normally make around five wardrobes per week, are already searching for new premises, and aim to begin trading again as soon as possible.
"We have no choice but to get back up and running - we all have families to support."
Mr Judge said how much support the business has received after explaining its situation on Facebook.
He added: "So many people have been giving us that little confident boost that everything's going to be all right. It has got me through."
A police investigation into the incident is ongoing.
If you think you can help Kent Wardrobes find new premises please email info@kentwardrobes.co.uk
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