Norfolk Chronicle 19 Aug 1780: John Stonebridge farm fire

CAMBRIDGE, August 12.

On Sunday evening between six and seven o’clock, a fire broke out in the roof of a barn belonging to John (actually Joseph - ed.) Stonebridge, farmer, at Trumpington, occasioned by a boy shooting at a pigeon. Every thing being very dry, the fire raged with the utmost fury, and in a few minutes the whole farm yard, and also two barns on the opposite side of the road, occupied by Mr. Humphreys, were in flames. On the first alarm the engines were sent from Cambridge, and though the supply of water was scanty, yet by the well-directed endeavours of the people assembled on the occasion, the flames were prevented from reaching the mansion house belonging to Mr. Ansty, or Stonebridge’s farm-house, and happily got under by midnight. Four large barns, a granary, several out-houses, with two stacks of hay, some rye, and other grain, were burnt, and a sow with four pigs perished in the flames; the whole damage is supposed to be from £900 to £1000.

The inhabitants of Trumpington return their most sincere thanks to the gentlemen and others of the university and town of Cambridge, and the adjacent villages, for the ready and timely assistance afforded them in the above dreadful fire.