[by kind permission of the Dorset County Museum]
This picture shows Fordington High Street running from left to right in front of a row of terraced thatched houses.
Although thought to have been painted later in 1877 it shows how closely packed the houses still were in Fordington
and how extensive an area was covered in thatch which could easily catch fire.
On Thursday last about half past twelve a fire broke out at Fordington, adjoining Dorchester, which before it could be got under effected a very grievous destruction of property. The fire was first discovered in the thatched roof of Mr. ANSTY's bakehouse, and is supposed to have arisen in some way from the oven. The weather being exceedingly dry and warm the flames raged with great fury and communicated in a few minutes to the adjoining malthouse of Mr. P.PEARCE of the 'Union Arms', which was also thickly covered with thatch. An alarm having been given immediately on the discovery of the fire, a very great number of persons were promptly in attendance, and the engines of Fordington, of the three parishes in Dorchester, and of the Barracks, were very early on the spot, and that from Stafford was brought as speedily as possible. The troops of the 9th Lancers in our barracks were also in attendance and under the guidance and personal example of officers exerted themselves with much activity.
The fire however occurring at some distance from the river some of the engines, particularly those stationed near the back of the premises were occasionally short of water, the wells in the neighbourhood being soon exhausted; and the progress of the fire was consequently so rapid as for a considerable time to defy all the attempts made to check it. Nearly all the buildings in the neighbourhood were thatched and the flames having communicated by means of the malthouse and adjacent buildings with a row at the back of that in which the fire originated spread with most astonishing speed and thus two rows of buildings were at once enveloped in the fire.
The consternation of the inhabitants was excessive, and in the hurry of removing the furniture and other things from the interior of the houses endangered, a great deal of property was damaged and destroyed that might have been secured by a more thoughtful and careful removal. By the most vigorous exertions and by stripping off the thatch from a house at a considerable distance from the origin of the fire the flames were at length checked; but not until no fewer than 23 dwelling houses, besides several outhouses had been either destroyed by the fire or had their interior entirely ruined by the removal of goods and the tearing up of woodwork to avoid leaving combustible materials.
Many of the houses destroyed by this fire being occupied by persons in the middle classes of life, the destruction of property has been considerably greater than even at the fires that took place in Fordington about eighteen months since, though the personal destitution is not so great. As will be seem by the following list, a considerable portion of the property was insured. The following dwelling houses were either entirely consumed by fire or "gutted" of their contents:-
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Two cottages occupied by Samuel TAYLOR and READ, [Note:- C1841 Cuckold's Row: Samuel Taylor a smith age 47 with wife & 3 children -- William READ age 31 a tailor with wife & 4 children]
and two behind these in the occupation of ---KEECH and ----LESTER -- all uninsured, [Note:- C1841 Cuckold's Row: William Keech a cordwainer age 30/34 with wife & 2 children -- Thomas Lester a thatcher with wife & 3 children
a dwelling house and bakehouse belonging to and occupied by Mr. John ANSTY, ----insured, [Note:- C1841 Cuckold's Row: John Ansty a baker age 45/49 with wife & 7 children]
the 'Union Arms' and a large malthouse, belonging to & occupied by Mr.P.PEARCE ----insured, [Note:- Union Arms : Philip Pearce a victualler age 45/49 with wife & 4 children ]
a dwelling house, belonging to and occupied by James BISHOP, ----not insured [Note:- James Bishop a cordwainer age 52 with wife & 3 children]
three cottages occupied by ---GILLINGS, Richard KING, and Betty BROWN, --- belonging to E.ROBERTS two of which are insured and one uninsured. [Note:- Charles Gillings a labourer age 32 with wife & 4 children -- Richard King an agricultural labourer age 30 with wife & 3 children -- Betty Brown may be the Elizabeth Brown aged 70/74 living in Fordington High Street in April 1841? ]
a cottage occupied by John DAVIS, belonging to Mrs. CHRISTOPHER, ----uninsured, [Note:- John Davis a bricklayer age 38 with wife & 4 children]
another belonging to and occupied by William MATTHEWS, ----insured [Note:- William Matthews a labourer age 58 ]
three cottages occupied by Mrs. GRAY, G ROPER, and ---FUDGE, the property of Mr. W REASON, all insured [Note:- Ann Gray probably a widow age 63 with 3 children -- Back of Cuckold's Row Tregonwell Roper a sawyer with wife & 2 children --and -- Mary Fudge probably a widow age 50/54 with 2 children]
another belonging to and occupied by Thomas NORRIS ----uninsured [Note:- Thomas Norris an agricultural labourer age 61 Cuckold's Row with 3 adult children]
a dwelling house belonging to and occupied by Mr. Christopher BISHOP. ----insured [Note:- Christopher Bishop a cordwainer age 25/29 with wife and child]
The foregoing were in the front row : In the back premise, facing the pound, were:-
three cottages occupied respectively by ----KEATS. Joseph GAWLER, and ----SEAL, [Note:- C 1841 Back of Cuckolds Row:George KEATS a porter age 35/39 with wife & 3 children; Joseph GAWLER aged 30/34 Ag Lab with Harriett GAWLER aged 30/34 : Probably Robert SEAL a labourer aged 20/24 with Jemima SEAL aged 50/54]
three cottages occupied by William OLD, Miss BROOKS; and SEAL, the property of Miss brooks was insured. [Note:- C1841 Back of Cuckolds Row:Wm Old not located in Census -- Rebecca BROOKS aged 55/59; John SEAL aged 25/29 with wife Ann etc Maybe Elizabeth SEAL aged 20]
The furniture in some of the principal houses was insured.
A stable, workshop, several outhouses and sheds were also consumed.
It was with great difficulty that the flames were prevented spreading to other streets and to some barns and ricks opposite. Had the fire broken out in the night the effects must have been most excessively destructive. The whole of the above property was destroyed in little ore than two hours; the flames being got under soon after three o'clock; but the ruins were smoking and occasionally bursting into flame during the following night and day, but a careful watch was kept to prevent any danger. We hope that this repetition of calamitous fires in the parish of Fordington will operate as a caution against further extension of thatched roofs in so densely populated a place, and the resolution to which we understand the Sun Fire Office has come, not to grant for the future any new policies on thatched buildings in the heart of the parish, will go far to have that effect. Such a calamity as that which has just happened occurring so soon after the lamentable fires of last year, is also well calculated to impress upon the inhabitants the desirableness of establishing a fire brigade, whose duty it will be, not only themselves to act on an uniform principle but also to direct the exertions of the many who are ready to tender their assistance on such occasions. If any thing like adequate organisation had prevailed on this melancholy occasion and the labours of the multitude of assistants been directed by a few men embodied for the purpose, the flames might have been checked at an earlier period. and certainly a great amount of property would have been preserved, but which has now been destroyed or greatly insured by hasty and inconsiderate removal, effected with the best possible intention but with more zeal than judgment. We are sorry to have to state that on this melancholy occasion, peculation to a considerable extent was carried on. One man named BILLETT has however been apprehended and committed to take his trial on a charge of stealing some silver spoons, the property of Mr ANSTY: which he had broken up and offered for sale to Mr SAUNDERS, silver smith, who immediately made the circumstance known.