|
The following is a very colourful and dramatic description of a barn fire in Farnhill, from an article in the Craven Herald dated 9th October 1876. Farnhill Barn Fire - £300 Damages A fire occurred on Saturday afternoon last on the premises of Mr. Smith Redmayne, farmer, Farnhill, near Skipton. It was discovered about half past three o'clock by several cottagers who live near to the barn which was well filled with hay. The fire is supposed to have been caused by the thoughtless act of one of a number of children living in the neighbourhood, who, while playing near the barn, was enjoying himself by striking matches which he had taken from his mother's match-box, and watching them burn. It would seem that the little fellow in his glee carelessly flung through a hole in the barn a lighted lucifer. The consequences were most disastrous to Mr. Redmayne's property, the match came in contact with the hay, and the flames spread with alarming rapidity. In less than twenty minutes the whole place was enveloped in one sheet of flame. Speedily willing workers were attracted to the spot, and by means of buckets, water-barrels, and tube of all descriptions, a plentiful supply of water was in readiness. J.R. Tennant, Esq. (Kildwick Hall), and Jas. Slingsby, Esq. (Farnhill Hall), very obligingly sent their water barrels, and these were of great service, a sufficiency of water being easily available from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which runs at a field length from, and past the upper portion of the village of Farnhill where the barn is situated. Several "becks" which furnish water for the domestic use of the inhabitants, were also dammed up, they being more conveniently situated. Towards four o-clock the fire raged with greater fury, and it immediately became evident that unless some stronger force was brought into requisition, the adjacent cottage, belonging to Mr. Redmayne, and its contents, would also be destroyed. A messenger was at once despatched to Skipton for the Fire Brigade, and immediately on receipt of the information, the Skipton Fire Brigade were called upon to do their duty. P.C. Tillotson, who received the message from a man sent on horseback named Robert Hargreaves, at once gave instructions to call the firemen together, Mr. H. Calvert being amongst the most prompt. Mr. Thos. Atkinson, usually ready at call, was busily engaged elsewhere than at home, but he was enabled to follow, as did many of our townspeople by the 5-0 p.m. train. Fully equipped, precisely about 4.30 o'clock, the fire engine and brigade made a start. When the scene of the fire was reached it was found that large numbers of the residents of Cononley seeing smoke and flames issuing from the roof had also got to the spot, and ere five o'clock had arrived, several hundreds had assembled, and done much towards extinguishing the flames. Shortly, however, before five o'clock, the roof fell on the burning hay, and it was then seen that the whole of the contents as well as the woodwork of the barn would be utterly destroyed. It should be stated that when the fire was discovered, several agricultural implements at the entrance to the barn were taken out and thus saved from destruction. When the fire engine arrived, the men having accomplished the journey in quick time, drawn by three horses, from Mr. Wrigley's, they began quickly to do effective service, and to battle with the fiery elements. Having got the hose pipes fixed into the large cattle drinking trough, which was filled with water by the water barrels of the farmers, the engine began to pump. The brigade also directed their attention to clearing the roof, and edging stones of the superstructure. In this, a youth named Atkinson, son of a fireman, was very active. The severest influence of the fire was at the south end of the barn, the wind blowing in that direction seemed to have fanned the flames. There the hay was quickly destroyed, and towards half-past five most of it had disappeared. The fire then began to burn more strongly on the north end and adjoining the cottage, and fears were entertained that the cottage, the inner walls of which were stated to be almost red hot, would also succumb to the flames. At this juncture there was a cry amongst the firemen of "Another pipe" and this was speedily adjusted, the one at first used having got damaged. Then the firemen set to work to save the cottage from destruction, their efforts happily being successful. In the mean time, Supt. Exton, of Skipton, and a force of policemen had arrived, and wisely kept the adventurous youths from running a risk, as some did, of losing their lives by climbing on the walls of the barn and roof of the adjoining cottage. Towards six o'clock the fire was still unabated, and it was with difficulty, owing principally to a scarcity of water, that it could be held in check. About this time one of the brigade, whose name is William Cook, met with an unfortunate accident. On the top of the smouldering hay in the barn was a fireman named Moses Crabtree, engaged in throwing out the debris of the fallen roof, the fire in which had been extinguished by the hose pipes. Whilst thus busily engaged the man had not heard the repeated calls of the officials below for him to discontinue until the fresh hose-pipe was adjusted. Cook, the fireman, in passing underneath the window was struck by a large piece of falling stone, which grazed his eye and cut his cheek, besides causing other painful injuries to the brow, but not of such a serious character as to prevent him continuing at his post, during the evening. It should be stated that in the barn there were four mows of hay divided each by a partition. Underneath the hay, to prevent dampness, was a large quantity of dried heather, and this, first coming in contact with the flames, and being much lighter and more combustible, had caused the fire to spread underneath the whole of the hay, before any attempt could be made to put it out, so that very soon after the match was thrown in, the interior of the building was one mass of flame. At seven o'clock two of the mows of hay had been completely destroyed, and the fire was quickly burning the other. By means of water the firemen succeeded partially in extinguishing the destructive element, and they were during the whole of the night of Saturday engaged in removing the hay out of the building, assisted by P.C.'s Garbutt, of Silsden, and McRae, of Crosshills, and putting out the fire wherever it chanced to break out. They were kept at this arduous task until Sunday noon, when, having completed their work, substantial refreshments were given them in the shape of an excellent dinner at one of the village Inns in Farnhill. It need hardly be said that most of the firemen, as well as those who were assisting, had also previously been well supplied with refreshments in the shape of ale and bread and cheese, &c. The brigade and fire-engine returned home to Skipton about two o'clock on Sunday afternoon.
Posted: 27/10/2018 |