Fire in Biggin Street.

“A late-night horror unfolded in April 1900 when smoke billowed from Mr. J Parton’s grocery shop on Biggin Street. The timely alert by Charles Foxley and the rapid response of the hose and ladder cart contained the blaze, averting a potential disaster in the heart of Dover.”

April 1900.
On Monday night about 11-10 a fire broke out at 77 Biggin Street occupied by Mr. J Parton, grocer. It appears that smoke was observed coming out of the top of the shop and a man named Charles Foxley gave the alarm at the Police Station. The hose and ladder cart were at once sent for in charge of Police Constable’s Prescott and Holmes and when they arrived it was found that the shop was well alight. The standpipe was fixed on the opposite side of the road and an ample supply of water being obtained the fire was extinguished by 11.50. The contents of the shop were completely destroyed. The origin of the fire has not been ascertained but the fire when first observed was in the ceiling over the shop. The buildings and the contents of Mr. Partons shop insured in the Union Fire Office but the furniture belonging to Mr. Hyman was not insured. The Superintendent of the Fire Brigade Mr. T. O. Sanders and 15 firemen were in attendance.

At the Council meeting on Tuesday when the facts were reported Alderman Peake said he thought it was very good work on the part of the fire brigade a remark that was echoed by Alderman Baker.

The peril caused by the fire to the neighbours was very alarming especially to Mr. and Mrs Hyman who lived over the shop and Miss Paine whose Newspaper and Toy Shop adjoined the side in which the fire broke out. Mr. Hyman and his wife and child had to escape partly dressed, the smoke being trifling. They and some of their belongings were quickly in the street and were soon kindly sheltered by the neighbour Miss Paine had closed her premises but had not retired. She was alert at the first alarm and sent messengers to Mr. Parton and the police to use her own words she thought her little place was doomed. She got hold of what she could and got out for the smoke especially in the upper rooms was stifling. She stood by while the police with great promptitude knocked out the fire with the well- primed hose and re-occupied her premises when the fire had been mastered and the smoke cleared away. Owing to the flames breaking through in Mr. Hyman’s apartments he and his family had to find refuge elsewhere.