Great Fire at Higham Ferrers
Currier’s Shop Completely Gutted
Good Work by the Rushden and Higham Ferrers Brigades

No little alarm was occasioned in Higham Ferrers on Wednesday night by a tremendous outbreak of fire which occurred on premises in Commercial-street occupied by Mr. W. N. Roberts, currier. Considerable anxiety was felt for safety of adjoining property, as not only is Commercial-street one of the narrowest thoroughfares in the town but it is also situated in one of the most populous areas. The street consists mainly of cottage property and very naturally many of the occupants of these houses became so alarmed that they commenced to remove their furniture to places of safety.

Happily, however, their worst fears were not realised, as although windows were in some instances scorched and cracked by the terrific heat, and some of the cottages were at one time actually licked by the fierce flames, the damage was confined exclusively to Mr. Roberts’s premises, which were absolutely gutted.

That the fire did not spread beyond the confines where it originated, is no doubt due to the commendable work of the Rushden and Higham Fire Brigades, who, with a knowledge of the highly combustible materials stored in a currier’s premises and requisite to the business, realised the hopelessness of attempting to save Mr. Roberts’s factory. They, therefore, confined themselves principally to the protection of surrounding property with praiseworthy success.

We understand that one of the first to notice that the factory was on fire was Mr. L. Smith, of Wharf-road, Higham Ferrers, who, whilst in his mother’s garden in Wharf-lane, saw smoke and flames issuing from the back of Mr. Roberts’s factory at about 7p.m.

He at once gave information to Fireman Septimus Middleton, who resides near, and who singularly is one of Mr. Roberts’s employees, and Fireman Middleton proceeded with all haste to the Higham Ferrers fire station, and procured the hose cart.

In the meantime Mr. Smith went and informed the manager of the works, Mr. Geo. Randall, who resides in High-street and together they hurried to the factory and on unlocking the door they were met by a burst of flame.

Shortly afterwards Fireman Middleton arrived with the fire appliances and speedily got the first hose to work. Other help was rapidly forthcoming as practically at the same time as Mr. Smith gave the alarm to Fireman Middleton a drayman who had also noticed the outbreak informed P.C. Powell who was fortunately in the near vicinity, and Mr. A. Sudborough, of Messrs. Sudborough and Sons, Ltd., whose factory adjoins the gutted premises, called up the Rushden and Higham Ferrers Fire Brigades by telephone.

Both brigades answered the call smartly although, we understand, some little delay was caused in regard to the calling up of the Higham Brigade owing to the fact that the Defence of the Realm regulations precluded the customary use of the rocket alarm, this necessitating a man riding round on a bicycle to call up the firemen.

By 7.10p.m. the fire had obtained a firm hold, and by the time that the full complement of firemen were on the scene the building presented the appearance of a veritable inferno, the flames lighting up the countryside for miles around.

At about 7.35p.m. the roof and floors of the factory fell in, and flames and burning material shot up to a tremendous height. It was at this time that adjoining property was most imperilled, as flames shot out of the windows and doors and licked the cottages opposite.

It was then that the residents commenced to remove their household effects, but about three-quarters-of-an-hour later the firemen had so effectively got the fire under control that it was deemed safe to replace the furniture.

[This was due] to water obtained by the use of the Rushden steamer, which was ready for action almost as soon as it arrived on the scene of the conflagration.

By 10.30p.m. the factory was a mere smouldering ruin, and at that time the Rushden Brigade were able to return to their headquarters, leaving matters in the hands of their Higham colleagues, who maintained their vigil all night, leaving the scene of the outbreak about midday yesterday, up to which time the debris was still smouldering.

The proprietor of the destroyed factory, Mr. Roberts, was in London all day on Wednesday, and only returned home by the train arriving at Rushden 5.50p.m., about an hour before the outbreak was discovered.

The Higham firemen comprised Second Officer A. Martin and Firemen S. Middleton, Stokes, Lucas, Twelvetree and Lambert.

The Rushden Fire Brigade were under Capt. F. Knight, and there were also present Second Office G. R. Turner, Third Officer R. F. Knight, Engineer C. Green, and Firemen A. Jaques, J. Whiting, C. Timpson, H. Payne, J. Sparrow, J. Wooding, and L. Britchford.

Valuable assistance in controlling the crowds which assembled was rendered by Supt. Macleod, Insp. Osborne, Sergts. Beale and Brumby, PC’s Powell, Mattack, Sharman, Knight, and Johnson, RC’s Holyoake and Swingler, and SC’s W W Chamberlain, G Tailby, A Cave, G Reynolds, A T Chambers, J Eagles, E F White, W H Spicer, C F Tall, Boyce, Meadows, and Dickinson.

The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The building belongs to Ald. Owen Parker. The damage is estimated at many thousands of pounds, and is covered by insurance.