Cambridge Independent Press 15 Jul 1843: Hills Road Farm fire

DESTRUCTIVE INCENDIARY FIRE AT THE HILLS-ROAD FARM

On the morning of Thursday last, a most alarming and destructive fire was discovered on the farm occupied by Messrs. Spencer and Eddlestone, situate between the Trumpington and Hills roads. The fire commenced in a large barn on the south-west side of the premises. The farm, which is what is usually termed a lone farm, consisted of a homestall, which is occupied by Mr. Spencer, and a large range of buildings surrounding the farm-yard. On the south-west side stood a large barn, 200 feet long, and about 23 feet high; a range of bullock pens, with a granary above, occupied the north-west side of the yard; and buildings, consisting of cattle-stalls and stabling (which alone remain in a perfect state) stand on the south-east side of the yard. The yard occupies an area of about 20 yards, and is separated from the dwelling-house by another yard, about 5 yards wide, and a pigeon-house. In the centre of the farm-yard, stands a dove-cote. On the night of Thursday, Mr. Spencer, after minutely examining the premises, and finding, as he imagined, all things safe, retired to rest about eleven o’clock. About one in the morning he was alarmed by a strong reflection of light in his chamber. On going to the window which overlooks the yard, he saw the large barn we have described, on fire at both ends. Having alarmed the servants who slept on the farm, Mr. Spencer descended and went to the stables to save the horses, nine in number, which he succeeded after great difficulty, several of them being severely scorched , in releasing and placing in security in an adjoining close. The fire by this time had reached to a great extent. The whole of the barn, which contained a 100 quarters of unthrashed corn, was in one terrific blaze, presenting an appearance of the most grand and awful description. The few servants who resided at the farm-house, were incapable of rendering any efficient help. Mr. Spencer dispatched his horsekeeper to Cambridge for assistance. This man, meeting a policeman, told him of the catastrophe; the policeman said, “Oh, we’ll make it all right; you need not trouble yourself to go to any other office – our engine will be there directly.” The man relying on the word of the officer, did not go, as he intended to do, to Mr. Hazard’s, or to Messrs. E. Smith and Son. The policeman also prevented him from giving an alarm of fire. By the time the man returned to the farm, it was nearly three o’clock, and no engine had then arrived, the fire continuing to blaze most destructively. In a few minutes the roof of the barn, consisting of pantiles, fell in with a tremendous crash, burying in its ruins a vast quantity of agricultural implements, which were collected in different parts of the building. There were two large mows of corn at either end of the barn, which were totally consumed; two dressing-machines, nearly new, shared the same fate. About this period, the police fire-engine arrived, being dragged by some of the force. A good supply of water was on the premises, and finding it useless to attempt saving any part of the barn, they directed their efforts to preserve the granary and the bullock pens on the north-west side of the yard, which were then in a destructive blaze. Their endeavours, however, were useless to retard the force of the destructive element, until the whole of the building was completely gutted, and seven quarters of peas, four quarters of beans, two coombs of tail wheat, eleven score and nine fleeces of wool, were entirely consumed. The falling in of the roof of this building, did much to extinguish the rage of the fire. The barn was still in flames, and the fire presently communicated to a range of cart-sheds, which, being composed of wood, took fire easily and burnt furiously. The whole of the cart-harness, together with a new broad-wheel cart, a water-cart, a dust-box, and a variety of agricultural implements, were completely consumed. Towards four o’clock, the fire began to subside. The police, who sought to appropriate to themselves the exclusive direction and management of the whole matter, were strenuously assisted by the persons assembled, whose efforts were certainly deserving of much praise. An immense number of pigeons and fowls fell a sacrifice to the devouring element. There is every reason to believe that this destructive and lamentable catastrophe was the work of some malignant incendiary. Some persons coming from Trumpington, who had been alarmed by the fire, about one o’clock, observed a man in a white smock rush into the spiny, by the windmill, on the Trumpington road; but their attention being engaged by the fire, they did not take notice of his further movements. The extent of the loss is estimated at £2,500. The whole of the property, we are happy to say, was insured.