The Great Fire of 1792

This is a transcript of an article from the Hampshire Chronicle dated 14 May 1792.

Fire at Barton Stacey

On Tuesday last, about the middle of the day, the most awful conflagration ever beheld by human eyes, desolated this village. Some people being at work in Mr Moody's shop, smith and edge-tool maker, a large flake of red hot iron flew out of the shop window, and, falling on some dry litter near a cucumber-bed, set it instantly on fire. This communicating to an adjacent mill-house, covered with thatch, where a horse was at work, the whole, in a few minutes, was in flames. Every exertion was used to extricate the horse, but in vain. The poor animal, irritated by flakes of fire falling continually upon him, and frightened by the flames, was in so dreadful a state of agitation, that he flew round with such impetuosity, that it was impossible to release him; and he was burnt to ashes.

These premises being situate at the northern extremity of the parish, the wind high, and blowing in a direct line with the street, carried the thatch like a storm of fire, swifter than a man could run, from one house to another, till the whole village was in flames!

The sight, from the adjoining hills, presented to the imagination an awful emblem of the last and final day! Volumes of liquid fire occupied the atmosphere, which, taking different directions, was whirled by the wind to a prodigious height; till the flame and combustible material roaring and bursting with a most tremendous noise, fell again in showers of fiery hail, until everything covered with thatch was entirely consumed! At once instant 20-7 houses, 13 barns, 10 stables, several granaries, and 4 ricks of capital wheat, were in flames. The thatch upon several extensive garden-walls was completely burnt up; every privy, though detached, and at the upper end of the gardens, was reduced to ashes; with a great number of waggons, carts, thrashed and unthrashed corn, 20-8 pigs, a great quantity of poultry, and all the furniture and entire property of great numbers of poor people, who are reduced to the most deplorable circumstances, and to the utmost penury.

Happening in the middle of the day, only 1 life was lost; and that through obstinacy. Farmer Friend, at the advanced sixty, perished in going upstairs after his money. He was supposed to have about 400 guineas in a coffer; which he said he was determined to save or perish in the attempt, which was unhappily his fate; for he had no sooner reached the top of the stairs than the roof fell in upon him; and so completely was he burned to ashes, that no traces whatever can be found of his body, except one small piece of the back bone.

Two engines, one from this city, and another from Whitchurch, came to the assistance of the sufferers; but not in time to prevent the ravages of the fire, which completed its devastations in little more than an hour. About eight or ten houses remain uninjured, among which are the parsonage-house, the farm house occupied by Mr Courtney, and some cottages which stood out of the line of the wind. The principal loss is sustained by Mr Courtney, and we are sorry to hear that a very small part of the property destroyed was insured.

The Dean and Chapter of Winchester have generously sent £20 and a quantity of bread, for the present relief of the unfortunate sufferers, who were obliged to take shelter in the church. Joshua Iremonger, Esq. of Wherwell, and several other gentlemen, have also humanely extended their assistance towards their immediate necessities.

Top of page