The prestigious Morritt Hotel, nestled in the historic market town of Barnard Castle, has
made a leap forward in guest and staff safety following the installation of Hyfire’s advanced
Taurus wireless fire devices. Expert Fire Solutions installed over 100 Hyfire devices in just a
few days, ensuring minimal disruption to hotel operations.
The history of the Morritt
Enhancing the safety of this historic establishment isn’t only meant to protect those
frequenting the Hotel today but also the memories of those who inhabited it in the past. The
hallowed halls of the Morritt Hotel were, at a time, walked by many intellectuals, most
notably Charles Dickens. First opened in the 17th century, the Morritt Hotel was an important
coaching inn on the London-Carlisle route.
Illustrious British novelist, Charles Dickens, is believed to have stayed at the Morritt in 1839,
to research Nicholas Nickelby. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, famous painters such as
Turner and Cotman visited the area to paint many of the beauty spots in and around the river
Greta. To commemorate this link between art and the Morritt, in 1946, John Gilroy, famous
for his Guinness advertising images, painted a unique mural of Dickensian characters in the,
aptly named “Dickens Bar”.
Bringing the Hotel to the 21st Century
Today, The Morritt is a family-run hotel celebrated for its distinctive charm, award-winning
dining, and the unique Garage Spa. It offers a blend of traditional warmth and contemporary
luxury, nestled amidst the scenic splendour of Teesdale. Being such an old, historic building
it was important to upgrade the fire alarm system to properly ensure the safety of the
structure, staff and guests.
Nathan Cowie, Fire and Security Manager for Expert Fire Solutions, commented: “It was
clear from the beginning that a wireless fire system was the logical solution for this historic
building. Our collaboration with Hyfire was pivotal in specifying and installing a system that
respects the Morritt Hotel’s heritage and complex infrastructure. Hyfire does much more than
simply supplying the devices, providing us with guidance on suitable devices, positioning
and setup”.Robert Bruce, National Key Account Manager at Hyfire, said: “The Morritt Hotel is a jewel in
the crown of County Durham’s heritage, and we’re proud that our Taurus wireless fire
devices now play a role in its ongoing success story. This project showcases how advanced
fire technology can be tailored to balance the stringent requirements of modern fire
regulations with the often contradictory demands of historical conservation”.
The future of the Morritt Hotel
Taurus leaps beyond the performance of existing wireless systems with Hyfire’s
NetworkOptimiser communications technology. Intelligent signal processing and 60
communications channels mean whatever the size of the building, or the overlap of wireless
infrastructure within it, you will not suffer any channel collision. This means that Taurus can
do the job with less equipment and less batteries, thus saving costs.
A spokesperson for the Morritt Hotel said: “Integrating Hyfire’s Taurus wireless fire devices
was a great decision. They blend seamlessly with the hotel’s historical character while
enhancing the safety of our guests and staff. The system’s discreet and efficient installation
by Expert Fire Solutions allowed us to continue our operations smoothly, with the old system
remaining in service until the new one was commissioned, and the impact on the fabric of
the hotel was thankfully minimal”.
Hyfire’s Taurus wireless detection and alarm devices are fully certified to EN54. Fire panels
are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to
build fully wireless systems of virtually any size, or mixed with Hyfire wired products to
provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers. These
features make Taurus the ideal fire solution to ensure the safety of the historic Morritt Hotel.