Sheffield Independent 07 June 1851.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN KENT.

Between one and two o'clock on Saturday morning a fire was discovered to have broken out on the premises of Mr. Stace, ironmonger, in the High-street of Strood, near Rochester, which speedily communicated to the adjoining public-house.

The fire progressed with such alarming rapidity that all efforts to save the buildings were futile, that belonging to Mr. Stace, together with the furniture and stock, being entirely destroyed, and nearly the whole of Mr. Attersoel's public-house.

The fire extended to Mr. Langford's, grocer, and the sashes of three windows were burning, but by placing wet blankets on the inside it was prevented from doing further damage. Five barrels of gunpowder on Mr. Stace's premises were fortunately removed to a place of safety. Mr. Stace, we regret to say, will be a considerable loser, the whole of his valuable stock and furniture, amounting to upwards of £2000, being entirely destroyed, while the insurance will not much more than cover half the amount.

Mr. Attersoel's house was insured in the Sun Fire Office for £500, and the stock in the British Empire, in the former of which Mr. Stace was insured. The fire broke out in the counting-house on Mr. Stace's premises, but the origin is unknown.

Austin Stace was mentioned in the census of 1841 as being an ironmonger living in the High Street age 25 in that year.