building.

The roof of the building -- near the Flatts Village marina -- threatened to collapse under heavy rain last weekend, forcing Police to close off the area and divert traffic over the Middle Road.

Works and Engineering workers removed the roof after there was concern that slates would fall into the road as traffic went by.

And engineers examined the rest of the building to see if it would have to come down.

But Works and Engineering Minister Leonard Gibbons yesterday told The Royal Gazette that the historic was not derelict and therefore the Ministry will not interfere.

"What happens to the building is up to the owner,'' Mr. Gibbons said. "It is not derelict. If it were unsafe, then we would step in.'' Mr. Gibbons added that he had heard through "the Bermuda grapevine'' that the owner, Cromwell Manders, was interested in saving the building.

Mr. Manders could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But Government Archivist John Adams estimated that the building was more than 200 years old.

"It is the oldest building on the Flatts waterfront,'' he said. "It is a wonderful and important example of architecture in the 1800s. It is an intricate part of Flatt's.'' Mr. Adams said he believed the building could be saved despite its present condition.