Category: Fire and Rescue

Information about the fire brigade and rescue services in Warminster.

Grass Set On Fire By Children At Sambourne Road, Warminster

Danny Howell writes:

Children set light to the grass on the high bank, on the eastern side of Sambourne Road, Warminster, on the afternoon of Monday 12th July 2004. An open space (with the old name Beds Feet) adjacent to the scene is often frequented by youngsters and is a well-known area for litter and graffiti. After running away from the fire the children returned to try and put it out, but panicked when they were unable to, and they ran away again. Warminster Fire Brigade successfully dealt with the situation at 4.00 p.m. They are asking children to heed the danger of playing with matches, even when long grass is damp due to the showery weather.

Car On Fire At The Dene, Warminster

Danny Howell writes:

Warminster Fire Brigade was called out at 3.00 a.m. on Saturday 10th July 2004, to a car on fire at the Dene, Warminster. The car, a diesel Ford Escort, was situated on the driveway to a house. A wooden fence was also damaged. One fire engine attended and two hose reels were deployed. Two of the fire-fighters had to wear breathing apparatus, and the Fire Brigade was in attendance for one hour. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze.

Fire At Pound Street Maltings, Warminster

Friday 26th February 1982

Firemen from Warminster, Frome and Westbury attended a fire at the Pound Street Maltings, Warminster, in the early hours of Saturday 20th February 1982.

Led by Station Officer Gerald Francis the Warminster firemen had to break down a pair of double doors to get inside the building. They were soon joined by the crews from Frome and Westbury. Five and a half hours were spent fighting the fire in the roof of the top floor of the maltings. At one stage, flames billowed 20 feet high in the night sky.

A third of the roof area was destroyed. Repairing the damage has been estimated to cost in the region of £3,500. The skills of the firefighters limited the loss of grain to about one ton and a half. Production of malt was able to continue on the Saturday morning, thanks to the workmen of R. Butcher & Son, the Warminster builders, who arrived, stripping and sheeting down the roof preventing heat from being lost.

The Director of Beaven’s Maltings, Mr. Hugh Turner, praised the firefighters for their actions. The cause of the fire is being investigated, but arson has already been ruled out.

Loss Of Property For Farmer Robert Coles During A Fire At The Grange

Newspaper cutting:

9th December 1899

Warminster: In the early hours of yesterday morning, a destructive fire broke out at the Grange, the residence of Mr R Coles, involving the loss of an extensive malting house, an office, stable and various implements.

The fire was discovered shortly after three o’clock in the morning by Miss Coles. She immediately raised the alarm and Mr E.L. Coles hurried off to summon the fire brigade, which arrived soon after. By that time, the fire had obtained such a hold on the malthouse the roof had fallen and the debris was burning fiercly. They set to work with a will, and with the assistance of many willing helpers got the flames under control. At nine o’clock the brigade left the smouldering ruins.

The damage exclusive of the building is estimated at between £300 and £400.

Disastrous Fire At The New Inn, Corton

Monday 2nd September 1889

Corton. Destructive Fire. The New Inn Burnt Down.

One of the most disastrous fires which has occurred in the neighbourhood for a long time broke out on Sunday night [1st September 1889] or early on Monday morning [2nd September 1889], and ended in the destruction of the New Inn public-house,   occupied by Mr. Solomon.

The house was closed at ten o’clock on Sunday night, and it is stated that Mr. Solomon and the only two other inmates-  two men who were in the neighbourhood picking apples – at once retired to rest. All then seemed safe, but at one o’clock Mr. Solomon was awoken by a stifling sensation, and on arousing himself found his bedroom full of smoke. He at once slipped on his trousers, and on opening the door found the staircase in flames. He alarmed the lodgers, and immediately proceeded to make his escape through the bedroom window in the front of the house. He climbed down the vine, underneath the window, but this gave way, and he fell to the ground, without, however, seriously injuring himself. The lodgers in the meantime made an equally speedy exit through their bedroom window at the rear of the house.

By this time the building was all in a blaze. One of the lodgers gave the alarm to a neighbour, and in a short time the whole village was astir, plenty of willing helpers being very quickly on the scene. They could do but little, however, to check the progress of the flames, as the only available water was that from an old pump in one of the out-houses, and this soon gave out.

Mr. Billett started to Warminster for the Fire Brigade, and on the men being aroused they were very quickly in readiness to start,   under the direction of the Captain, Mr. Hurlstone. Some delay was occasioned in getting away owing to a difficulty in obtaining a second horse to go with Mr. H. Carter’s. At length Mr. E. Butcher kindly supplied the want and the Brigade reached the scene about four o’clock. Captain Helme’s steam engine was also present. It was at once seen that it would be impossible to save the inn, as it was entirely encompassed in flames. It was a very old house – said to be about three hundred years old – and contained a good deal of wood in which the fiery element found an easy prey. A good many of the walls, too, were built of chalky material, which soon gave way under the heat or the falling of the roof.

The Brigade,  however, succeeded in saving the building which ran alongside the yard and was connected to the inn. This consisted of a kitchen, a small scullery, and a club room. On the left hand side lived Mr. Churchill, the owner of the inn, his house being only two or three yards away, and it was at one time feared that the fire would spread there. Water was poured continually on it, however, and it escaped, though the precaution was taken to get out all the furniture. The whole of the furniture of the inn was destroyed, but it was insured.

The house was rented by Messrs. G. and T. Baily, of the Lamb Brewery, Frome, and was insured in the Hand and Hand Fire Insurance Society. In addition to the furniture, Mr. Solomon lost a portion of the takings, which he was unable to get at, and his clothes, all his possessions when he escaped being his shirt and his trousers. The lodgers also lost their clothing. One of them hailed from Wylye, and the other from Westbury, and they were employed by Mr. Jones, of Westbury Leigh, gathering  apples. The stock-in-trade included four barrels of beer, a cask of cider, and odd lots, and the whole was destroyed.

The Brigade remained at the scene of the fire till six o’clock, when it was practically out, though it smouldered throughout the day. A word of praise is due to the villagers, who exerted themselves most energetically. The cause of the fire is unknown, and Mr. Solomon says the only way in which he can account for it is that a match must have been thrown on the matting in the bar by a customer, that it smouldered for a time and then burst out, the adjoining old and very dry wainscotting easily ignited.

Warminster Local Board Given A New Fire Engine

From The Wiltshire Times, Saturday 3rd September 1887:

Warminster. The New Fire Engine.
The fire engine given to the Local Board by Mr. R.L. Willcox on behalf of an anonymous donor, arrived at the railway station on Wednesday. [Plans to parade the engine through the principal streets were abandoned because of a downpour of rain, but the brigade, under Captain Hurlestone and Lieut. Neat, escorted it to the Local Board’s yard in George Street.] It is of the Metropolitan manual type, requiring 22 men to work it, and able to throw 100 gallons a minute to a height of 120 feet.

Fire At Pound Street, Warminster

From The Warminster Herald, Saturday 13th December 1873:

FIRE – Between 6 and 7 o’clock last evening a fire broke out in two old cottages in Pound Street, belonging to Mr. Henry Trollope. The fire bell was rung, and in a very short time the fire engine, with plenty of assistants, was at the spot. The fire had taken too great a hold of the buildings to allow of their being saved, and efforts were accordingly directed to prevent the fire from spreading to other and adjoining property. The two cottages destroyed were, we understand, insured, though only for a small amount. It is said that the cottage in which the fire originated was unoccupied, but that some men had been working there during the day.

Destruction By Fire Of Bishopstrow Mill, Sunday 23rd November 1873

From The Warminster Herald And General Weekly Advertiser For Wilts., Somerset and Dorset, Saturday 29th November 1873:

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF BISHOPSTROW MILLS

On Sunday afternoon last the corn mill known as Bishopstrow Mill was entirely destroyed by fire. The mill was in the occupation of Mr. William Hayter, an old and much-respected inhabitant of the parish, whose dwelling-house adjoined the mill, and indeed was partly under the same roof.

The fire was discovered between two and three o’clock in the afternoon, and no time was lost in dispatching a messenger to Warminster, to apprise the police of the fire, and to obtain the assistance of a fire engine. With most commendable promptitude, Mr. Superintendent Abbott and Inspector Pierce, with several constables of the force reached the scene of the conflagration. The large fire-engine under the control of Mr. Robert White, was got out and conveyed to the mill, a distance of nearly two miles, with wonderful alacrity. Indeed, the application of the engine had not been made five minutes before it was, with all necessary appliances, on its way to the fire. The mill was of ancient structure, and internally was largely composed of wood, which was very dry, and burnt most readily.

When the engine arrived, the fire had got such a hold that it seemed impossible it could be extinguished. The engine, however, was in capital working order, and there being plenty of water, the large discharge pipe was used. The result was surprising; an immense quantity of water was discharged on the fire, and ultimately it was got under, though not till the mill, with its machinery, was entirely destroyed. Strenuous efforts was made to save the dwelling-house and buildings adjoining the mill, and the furniture and effects. The furniture was all removed, but it was rendered virually valueless, having to be tumbled out of the windows and down stairs in a most hasty manner. Indeed, it might as well have been allowed to burn. The dwelling-house and other buildings were also virtually destroyed. The boilers, brick-work and all, were pulled down, and some of the fire-places were pulled out, and also were some iron window frames.

There were many willing hands, but of course discretion at such a time was not to be looked for. As soon as Mr. Abbott reached the spot, he and his officers gave such directions as prevented wanton destruction. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Abbott, Inspector Pierce, and other constables. Mr. White, who had charge of the engine, is also deserving of the highest commendation. No one could have acted with better discretion, or have worked more laboriously than he did. We should be remiss in our duty if we did not specially mention, as among the many inhabitants of the parish and district who lent ready aid, Mr. Frederick Heath. He really worked with desperation, and acted most courageously.

Great sympathy was expressed for Mr. Hayter and his family, and the houses of several kind neighbours were most readily placed at their disposal. By almost 4.30 the fire was thoroughly got under, but the fire engine was kept there all night. Mr. White and staff and police constables remained in charge. On the following day, under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Abbott, all the partly consumed wood was removed, and the tottering walls were knocked down.

The mill belonged to William Temple, Esq., of Bishopstrow House. It was insured in the Sun office, but only for a sum of £200, which does not represent more than a fourth of its value. Much anxiety was felt on behalf of Mr. Hayter, it being feared that neither the stock in his mill nor his furniture was insured, and as what was not destroyed was rendered almost valueless, the loss to him would have been very serious. We are most happy, however, to be able to announce that Mr. Hayter was insured, both for stock and furniture, for a small amount, sufficient, we hope, to cover his actual loss. Of course he will be a great loser by the fire, as his trade will be brought to a standstill. We trust, however, that neighbouring millers will render him all the assistance in their power.

The origin of the fire is a mystery. The miller stated that when he closed the mill on the Saturday night, he carefully extinguished his candle, and left all quite right. He was quite certain that nothing was then burning. A boy, the son of the miller, went into the mill about 8 o’clock on Sunday morning, to get some food for the fowls. He declared that he did not notice or smell anything burning. Now it seems scarcely conceiveable that the fire could have originated on the Saturday night, and that the boy could have gone into the mill later on Sunday morning and not seen smoke from it. Indeed, the place would by that time have been full of smoke. It is much more probable that the boy, when he went in for the corn to feed the fowls, lighted the candle left by his father and inspected some rat traps he had set about the mill, and, while doing so, dropped a spark from the candle, which led to the conflagration. Be this as it may, there can be not the slightest reason to suppose that the fire was other than the result of a pure accident, and for which no one is to blame.

Had the fire broken out in the night there might have been a loss of life, as there would have been a number of young children sleeping in the house, and the bedroom of Mr. Hayter, who is got very feeble, being situated actually under a portion of the mill. As we before stated, Mr. Hayter and the members of his family met with every attention and much sympathy from Bishopstrow House, and from the neighbours generally.

Elsewhere in the same issue of The Warminster Herald was the following notice:

Mr. HAYTER begs to return his most grateful thanks to the neighbours of Boreham [sic] and Warminster who so very kindly assisted in endeavouring to extinguishing the unfortunate fire which terminated in the total destruction of Boreham [sic] Mill.

[The newspaper staff obviously made a mistake with their printing blocks, transposing Boreham for Bishopstrow. The fire was at Bishopstrow Mill and Bishopstrow neighbours assisted.]

An advertisement in The Warminster Herald And General Weekly Advertiser For Wilts., Somerset And Dorset, issue dated Saturday 13th December 1873, showed at least one other miller was available after the loss of Bishopstrow Mill:

NORTON BAVANT MILL.
HENRY J. BAILEY
BEGS respectfully to inform agriculturalists and the general public that he is prepared to do Gristing work at his mill, such as was done by Mr. W. HAYTER, at the Bishopstrow Mill, before the late destructive fire there. He hopes to be able to meet the convenience of the entire neighbourhood by promptly executing all orders entrusted to him.

A notice in The Warminster Herald, issue dated Saturday 20th December 1873, reveals strong support for the rebuilding of a mill at Bishopstrow, from William Hayter’s neighbours:

THE LATE FIRE AT BISHOPSTROW MILL. – We have great pleasure in giving publicity to the following address, and to Mr. Temple’s acknowledgement of the same. We are sure the public will feel deeply grateful to Mr. Temple for his kindly consideration of their wishes:-

     TO WILLIAM TEMPLE, Esq., – We the undersigned, having seen with the greatest regret the complete destruction of Bishopstrow Mill be fire, hereby beg to express our great interest in seeing efforts made by you, as the proprietor, towards rebuilding the same; and in order to strengthen you in the idea, we beg to record the fact that the mill is one which could be least spared in the neighbourhood, as it possesses so many advantages over others which we may well capitulate. In the first place it possesses a most extensive reservoir and a better fall of water than any other on the same stream, consequently can be worked when others remain idle, which, through dry summers, is a most essential boon to other millers as well as to the farmers and tradesmen in the neighbourhood; and we very much fear if it is allowed to remain unbuilt will entail a very considerable inconvenience upon the customers in Gristing; who have so extensively patronised it from almost time immemorial. Under these circumstances, together with many others which might be adduced, we beg respectfully to ask you to rebuild the mill, feeling sure that it will not only prove a remunerative investment for yourself, but at the same time confer a great benefit and privilege upon your tenants and neighbours.
We are, dear Sir,
Your obedient servants.
[Here follows forty-one signatures.] *

Mr. TEMPLE, having received the above address which has been signed by so many of his friends and neighbours, begs to acknowledge in this public manner the receipt of it, and to thank them for their kind interest in his welfare, and to assure them the matter shall have his best and earliest consideration.

* The Warminster Herald did not print the names of the signees.

James Lampard’s Mill Destroyed By Fire

Wednesday 20th February 1861:

James Lampard’s mill at Heytesbury was totally destroyed by fire. “This was undoubtedly the result of an accident. The building and machinery were insured in the Sun Fire Office, and the stock in the Royal Exchange.”

[The Warminster Miscellany, Friday 1 March 1861]