Rushden Echo & Argus, 5th March 1948, transcribed by Kay Collins

Part of a longer article reflecting on events of March 1901: when "three days earlier" .........

Cattle Roasted Alive

Cattle were roasted alive when a fire broke out at Bottom Farm, Yelden, damaging property and stock to the value of £400-£500.

Practically all the able-bodied men in the village turned out to fight the blaze, which was first discovered when flames burst from the eaves of a thatched cow-house.

While the village blacksmith cycled to Rushden to call the Fire Brigade, a small army of helpers tackled the flames with water from the brook on the opposite side of the road.

Although two young men from the village liberated some of the cattle, others perished in the flames.

On examination of the ruins afterwards it was found that ten calves and a cow had been roasted to death.

When the fire engine did turn out it had to be towed to the site by three horses owing to the bad condition of the roads. The cow-house was completely gutted when it arrived.