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Ruins of the Great Fire at Gravesend - High-Street - looking North, 1850. Creator: Unknown
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Ruins of the Great Fire at Gravesend - High-Street - looking North, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Ruins of the Great Fire at Gravesend - High-Street - looking North, 1850. Many of [the buildings], notwithstanding that they were three or four stories high, and contained goods of some thousand pounds value, were constructed principally of timber, so that the officers of police became aware that, unless strenuous exertions were made, some of the inhabitants must lose their lives. They therefore aroused the whole of the occupants...In a very short space of time the town engines, together with those of the Custom House...were on the spot; and a supply of water from the mains of the water-works having been promptly got, every effort was made to subdue the fire...The engines, though well worked and abundantly supplied with water, gained no influence over the fire, which had at about three o'clock extended to seven houses on that (the western) side of the street'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850
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Media ID 36214045
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Accident Burning Emergency Services Extinguishing Fire Brigade Firefighter Firefighters Fireman Firemen Gravesend Kent England High Street Hose Hoses Incident On Fire
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the aftermath of the Great Fire of Gravesend that ravaged the High-Street in 1850. The ruins of once-proud buildings, now reduced to smoldering timber and rubble, stretch northward in this haunting scene. The fire, fueled by the predominantly wooden structures, had quickly spread from house to house, engulfing entire blocks and leaving their inhabitants in a desperate race against time. Despite the buildings' impressive height and the significant value of their contents, the officers of the police were all too aware of the imminent danger. They roused the townspeople, setting in motion a frantic effort to save lives and prevent further destruction. The town and Custom House engines were swiftly deployed, and a water supply was secured from the local water-works. Yet, despite the valiant efforts of the firefighters, the flames remained unyielding. By three o'clock, the fire had spread to seven houses on the western side of the street, its intensity unwavering in the face of the water hoses. The community of Gravesend was left to mourn the loss of their homes and livelihoods, as the ashes of the Great Fire slowly cooled. This poignant photograph, taken in the aftermath of the disaster, serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of fire and the resilience of those who face its wrath. Though the identity of the photographer remains unknown, their image offers a glimpse into the past, allowing us to bear witness to a pivotal moment in Gravesend's history.
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