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Kentish Gazette, 7 March 1820.
We are exceedingly concerned to state that the town of Chatham has
been visited by one of the utmost destructive
fires which it ever experienced. The conflagration commenced about
two o'clock on Friday morning at the house of Mr.
Hill, a baker, residing at 69, High-street. Before any assistance
could be afforded, it had gained such strength as to put
an end to all hopes of saving Mr. Hill's house, or that next to it,
with which the flames had almost immediately
communicated. The attention of those who first came to the spot was
then directed to the adjoining houses, and those
opposite, towards which the flames were driven by a violent North
Westerly wind, which continue to blow strongly until
a late hour in the morning. From Mr. Hill's house, and from those of
Mr. Watson, a linen Draper; of Mr. Cohen, a
pawnbroker; and two or three others which intervened, the devouring
element reach the "Sun Tavern," a very
extensive pile of building, and the principal Inn at Chatham. When
this house caught fire the scene was most awful,
the flames had been driven by the violence of the wind, to the
opposite side of the street, which then presented to the
eye a pile of burning buildings, between which, from the narrowness
of the place, the passage was in some places impassable, and, in all extremely dangerous. About half-past four or
five, the roof of the "Sun Tavern" fell with a
tremendous crash, and shortly after only a very small part of the
walls were still standing. At one time the brewery of
Mr. Best was thought to be in such danger that it's otter rain was
looking upon as inevitable; providentially, however,
by the prompt assistance of great numbers of the town's people,
aided by the active exertions of the military, it
escaped with comparatively trifling danger. Mr. Best was not so
fortunate with respect to his dwelling house, which,
with several adjoining houses, also his property, were entirely
consumed. The walls of Mr. Best's house were, from
their great solidarity, the only parts which were not levelled with
the Earth. At four, and between that and six o'clock,
the confusion which resigned in the town was beyond description.
From the appearance of the flames at the latter
hour, it was thought that all the houses south-east of that where
the fire began, would fall a sacrifice to its rage. So
strong was this impression, that many families, considerably removed
from the immediate scene of danger, had taken
down there bedsteads and other articles of furniture, and had
removed a large part of them to a still greater distance.
About 11 o'clock, the fury of the flames was checked by the partial
destruction of some houses on the same side of the
street where it began, and by the total demolition of one or two on
the opposite side, which the flames of not then
reached, but which were judged proper to take down, to prevent the
further spread of the configuration. The whole
number of houses destroyed in High Street is 38; and there were
several small buildings destroyed in the rear of each.
The violence of the wind was such that large flakes of burning
matter were conveyed to some 100 yards' distance. One
of those flakes fell upon a large stack of hay about 150 yards from
High Street, which consumed that, and two others,
which were close by. There was a considerable quality of hay
besides these stacks, which fortunately escaped. From
the extraordinary rapidity with which the flames spread, and the
danger of which threatened, in a narrow street, both
sides of which, for a great part, on fire, and immensity of property
was destroyed, which, had the weather been more
mild, might have been saved. Several houses, and those principally
belonging to persons whose ruin must be the
consequence, are wholly uninsured. It is, however, a satisfaction,
and relating this melancholy accident, to be able to
state that no life was lost on the occasion. One or two persons were
hurt by the falling of a wall, but not dangerously.
At an early hour of the day the news of the fire reached London,
from which some engines were dispatched; but
before their arrival the flames had been nearly subdued. The engines
from Rochester and Maidstone on on the spot as
soon as possible after the accident had reached those places. The
Sun fire engine, drawn by 6 horses, reached
Chatham at 6 in the afternoon. Great inconvenience was experience
from the wants of a plentiful supply of water. In
some places it was conveyed in casks to the spot where the engines
were at work, and there emptied into the street. The fire is supposed to have originated from the carelessness of one
of the baker's men, who carried out some hot
ashes, which he emptied near a rick of faggotts, and which was
fanned into a blaze by the excessive high winds.
This is the third severe visitation by fire which Chatham has
experience within the last half-century. About 20 years ago
a fire broke out nearly in the same place as the present one, which
consumes nearly 70 houses; and about 22 years
before that period a fire happened in the same street, to which 80
or 90 houses fell a pray.
Another Account.
The following are some further particulars which we have learned.
The family of Mr. Hill, at whose house the configuration commenced,
and also that at the "Sun Tavern," had merely
time to snatch a few garments, so rapid was the progress of the
flames, there being only two small engines, that
belong to the town, and a private one. When the flames reached
Best's brewhouse, a large stone fronted building, the
engines were supplied, owing to the scarcity of water with beer, to
the amount of nearly 100 butts. The wind blew with
considerable fury, and both sides of the street, which is very
narrow, being in flames at the same time the falling ruins
rounded it dangerous for persons to pass, or to render assistance.
The watch-houses and places of confinement, it is
lamentable to add, were filled with the lower order of townsfolks,
who took advantage of their neighbours' distress and
got intoxicated at their expense; and such was a scene of distress,
that nothing less than the utter ruin of the town was
expected. On the side of the High Street, next the Medway, there are
about 15 houses destroyed. On the opposite side
about 12, besides the number of courts and alleys.
The letter of a correspondent gives the following as a correct list
of the person whose houses have been destroyed and
much damaged by the dreadful configuration.
On The North Side.
Mr. Schnebbelie, confectioner, Mr. Benjamin; Mr. Hills, baker; Mrs.
Burdett, tallow chandley; Mr. Watson, ironmonger;
"Crown and Anchor;" Mr. Cohen, pawnbroker; Mr. Hall,
tailor; "Sun
Tavern," Mrs. Etherington, stationery; Mr. Whitehead, sadler; Mr. Fisher, draper; Mr. Stronghill, glazier;
"Kings Head," entirely destroyed.
Mr. Hendy, breeches maker, Mr. Large, shoemaker, Mr Williams,
draper, Mr. Delasour, silversmith, much damaged.
On The South Side.
Mr. Catchpool, draper; Mr. Thompson, grocer; Mr. Crockford, cabinet-maker; Mr. Poole, hatter; Mr. Harris, green-grocer; Mr. Hawkins, fishmonger; Mr. Appleby, stay-maker; Mr. Pye,
butcher; Mr. Frid, pawnbroker; Mr. G. Miller; Mr.
Matthews, tailor; Mr. Brittain, hair-dresser; Mr. E. Wickham; Mr. H. Wickham; entirely destroyed.
The mansion of J. Best esq. burnt and Brewhouse very much damaged.
Mr. Godfrey, surgeon, Mr Bishop, grocer; Mr. Lucas, slopseller; Mr.
Ray, butcher; Mr. Davis, ironmonger; very much damaged. Several small houses and back premises on both sides the way, burnt
down, it is supposed that £100,000 will not repair
the loss.
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