| A fire occurred just before midnight on Saturday, 2nd September 1876, on the premises of Thomas B. Turnell, farmer. Several ricks were totally destroyed. The extensive rickyard stood on the road between Irchester and Wellingborough. It was known as "The Poplar Barn". It contained one barley rick, two oat ricks, one wheat rick, one "cob" of barley "draggings", and an old straw stack. Tom Turnell's men were thatching the ricks that day, and when they left off work at 6.30 p.m., all was safe. Half an hour before midnight, several labouring men were returning to Irchester from Wellingborough. They saw that the cob of draggings, nearest the road, was in flames. They called up Thomas B. Turnell and his brother, George, and the fire brigade was sent for. The Wellingborough fire engine and the police arrived quickly, but water was in short supply, and they were unable to prevent the spreading of the fire. Rick after rick caught fire, and all were destroyed. The fire was confined to the ricks, so the barn was saved. George Turnell had been at Irchester, and just before passing the barn at 10.50 p.m., he met a man walking towards Irchester. However, at that time he saw nothing wrong in the yard. He later met Robert Riddle, a labourer, and other men. They were the first to see the flames, and they went to George at his house, twenty minutes later. |
