Needingworth Data

History of Needingworth

1847 (September)

There was a major fire which destroyed 86 houses and damaged many others.

London Evening Standard, 18 September 1847

AWFUL FIRE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD.

Sir,—Will you kindly afford me space in your columns to lay before the British public a case, or rather many cases, of most afflicting bereavement and destitution, occasioned by a fearful visitation from the hand of God on the village of Needingworth by fire?

The parish of Holywell and Needingworth, situated two miles from St. Ives, in Huntingdonshire, consists of about 950 inhabitants, who are congregated in two villages. The population is exclusively agricultural, composed of farmers, labourers, and a few individuals who carry on business and trades adapted to such a place. Yesterday morning (Thursday, the 16th), shortly after two o’clock, a poor girl who is weak in her intellects, having been left in the house alone, threw the ashes from the grate, in which were some embers not quite extinguished, close to some straw, that had been collected in gleaning, and was piled outside at the wall of the cottage. The wind being at the time intensely strong kindled the embers, which ignited the straw. The flames communicated to the thatched roof, and although the cottage, and two that stood along with it, were quite detached from the village, and separated from it by an orchard, the wind scattered the burning thatch to other habitations, and swept the flames on through the others; and more than 80 houses, being nearly one-half of the village, were totally destroyed, together with the furniture of most of them. Ten homestalls, with all the rich produce of the harvest, were consumed, and 87 families are left without raiment, food, or a spot to lay their heads.

In this most disastrous calamity, let me earnestly entreat the relief of those who can sympathise with the sufferings of their fellow-creatures. There are no gentlemen of property resident in the parish, and it is quite impossible that any local aid can meet the tremendous ruin entailed on so many who, at the approaching inclement season, have no shelter from its severity.

This village, where all was tranquillity on Wednesday evening, presented on the next the walls of smoking ruins, and a houseless, destitute population. Let me then implore the aid of those whom Providence has blessed with the means of succouring the distressed. Let me request my kind brethren, wherever they feel that circumstances permit them, to mention the case to their flock, and I have no doubt that the sympathy of benevolent Christians will soon dry up the tears and relieve the sufferings of the poor, and that the same hand that has sent the visitation will graciously provide an adequate relief.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT J. M‘GHEE.
Rector of Holywell and Needingworth.

Holywell, St. Ives, Hunts, Sept. 17.