FIRE AT KINGSTEIGNTON - 20 MARCH 1890 |
From the Exeter Flying Post 21 March 1890: "A fire broke out about half-past one yesterday afternoon at Upper Sandy Gate, Kingsteignton, resulting in the destruction of eight houses. Nearly all the occupiers of these cottages lost their furniture and are rendered homeless. Upper Sandy Gate consisted of twelve cottages, all except one being on the west side of the road. Eight were covered with thatch, the rest with slate, three of the latter standing behind the thatched cottages, and one at a short distance from the south end. The thatched house at the north end was inhabited by James Beater and his family. Beater went home to dinner, and on leaving about half-past one to return to his work at the clay pits, he saw smoke issuing from the rear of his house. On going back, he found that the roof of his pig's house had taken fire, and that the flames extended to the roof of the dwelling house. He immediately raised an alarm and got the pig from the sty. There was a strong wind blowing at the time, and the fire spread with great rapidity, the row of seven cottages being all alight in a very short time. The people did what they could to get out their furniture and clothes, but in most cases, the bedding and upstairs furniture were burnt, and much of the downstairs furniture was broken. |
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Newton Abbot firemen c. 1890s Source unkown |
A messenger was despatched to Newton Abbot, and about quarter to three, the West of England fire engine, under the superintendence of Mr. C. Dobell, captain of the Newton Abbot Fire Brigade, arrived but it could do nothing to save the burning pile. The flames had, in the meantime, leapt across the road and set fire to the solitary cottage on the other side, which was also burnt to the ground.
The three houses at the back stand at right angles to the others, and the one nearest the burning cottages several time took fire, but the engine played upon it, and prevented the fire spreading in that direction.
The families* rendered homeless are: James Beater, wife, one child and aged mother-in-law William Jordan, wife and niece George Heyward, wife and four children Walter Cook and five children William Hayward, wife and six children Harriet Newman John Walters, wife, four children and bed-ridden brother-in-law Elizabeth Stevens and two sons
These all found temporary shelter in the homes of relatives and friends, the Vicar, Mrs. Jackson and others doing all they could to alleviate the distress. A committee to raise a fund for the relief of the burnt-out cottagers is being formed. Rev. Percival Jackson is the treasurer and contributions may be sent to him or to Messrs Watts, Whidborne and Co, bankers of Newton Abbot. Seven of the houses belonged to Mr. J. S. Burd of Higher Compton, Plymouth and the other to Lord Clifford, and are believed to be insured. The origin of the fire is unknown but it is believed that a spark from one of the cottages in the rear fell on the roof of the pig sty and was fanned by the high wind into a flame which set fire to the roof." |
* A list compiled from various sources would suggest that at least 42 people were made homeless by this fire: James Beater (50) Clay Cutter Annie Beater (48) Wife Anna Beater (22) daughter Elizabeth Beater (19) Daughter Florence Beater (15) Daughter Mary E, Beater (8) Daughter Johanna Discombe (86) Mother-in-law William H. Jordan (45) Clay Cutter Mary Ann Jordan (44) Wife Rosa Jordan (11) Daughter Eva Jordan (8) Daughter Ehtel G. Jordan (5) Daughter (No niece has been found for William Jordan as mentioned above so this reference may have been a misunderstanding. However, William and Mary Ann Jordan had children of their own and at least three of them would have been living in the house on the day of the fire although they would have been at school at the time it happened.) George Heyward (29) Clay Cutter Agnes Heyward ( 31) Wife Winifred Heyward (5) Daughter George Heyward ( 3) Son Mary Ann Heyward (2) Daughter (A fourth child has not yet been found for this family.)
Edith Cook (19) Daughter William Cook (15) Son Thomas Cook (13) Son Walter Cook (10) Son Sarah Cook (5) Daughter
Elizabeth Heyward (40) Wife Martha Heyward ( 10) Daughter Rosina Heyward ( 8) Daughter Hannah Heyward (7) Daughter Lily Heyward (5) Daughter James Heyward (3) Son Frederick J. Heyward (1) Son) Harriet Newman (76) Widow John Walters (31) Clay Cutter Charlotte Walters (36) Wife Frank Heyward (16) Step son Blanch Walters (11) Daughter Leah Walters (9) Daughter Laura E. Walters (5) Daughter (Identity of the bedridden brother-in-law is not known) Elizabeth Stevens (51) Mother/ Widow John Stevens (29) Clay Cutter Mary Jane Stevens (27) Domestic Cook |
© M.E. Brine. This page last updated
31 July, 2009
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