August 1927 fire

  The alarm had not then been sent to the Fire Brigade, but Mr. J. Marshall Bailey, who lives next door in a house in Moor-road, saw the smoke issuing from the windows and hastily ran to Mr. B. Ladd’s house in Moor-road and telephoned for the Brigade.  The call was quickly answered, and at 12.45 the brigade were on the scene, the tender being driven by Captain R. F. Knight.  The hoses were used at first direct from the town main, but as these were insufficient the steamer was brought into use.

  Breaking into the windows facing the street, the firemen, under the direction of Captain Knight and Second Officer W. Packwood, directed the jets on the office, which was thoroughly ablaze, but most of the floor was burnt out before the flames were quelled.  The top storey (the third) also burned fiercely and was badly damaged.  Most of the work on the premises was spoilt, but it was said to be insured.

  Great alarm was caused the occupants of the houses built in the same block as the factory, Messrs. Dans, Harris, and Bond.  A great portion of the efforts of the brigade were directed to saving the house of Mr. Dans, separated from the factory by a single brick partition.  All the furniture had been quickly removed by many willing helpers, but thanks to the efforts of the firemen, who worked in excellent fashion, the house was not involved.

  After working hard for three-quarters-of-an-hour the brigade mastered the flames, but they stayed on into the middle of the afternoon to make certain there would be no further outbreak.  A large crowd who swarmed to Moor-road and Wentworth-road were controlled by a number of police constables under Inspector Knight, Sergt. Roughton and Sergt. Cherry.

  About 30 workpeople were employed by the firm, who, in addition to stitching and sewing boots, manufactured a certain number of boots and shoes.