From the Kentish Gazette 10 April 1838.

Dreadful Death.

On Wednesday evening week an inquest was held at the "Cricketers," Greenwich, before Mr. Carttar, on view of the body of Ann Allred, aged fifty-five, who, for the last thirty years, has filled the office of head cook in the Asylum at Greenwich. It appeared in evidence that the deceased was seen last alive at one o’clock on Friday week, sitting in her apartment on a chair before the fire. At five o’clock a widow named Hall went to speak to her, when the room was discovered to be on fire. An alarm was instantly given, and after some difficulty the flames were extinguished by throwing in a quantity of water, &c., when a most shocking spectacle presented itself — the unfortunate woman was discovered lying on her back, the head, face, and upper part of her body being burnt in a most frightful manner. Mr. M'Crea, Assistant-surgeon to the Royal Hospital, promptly attended, but the vital spark had fled —Verdict, "Accidental Death."