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| Calne Fire Station, Station Road. |
Marsh tells us that the Church Registers detail the frequent occurrence of fires within Calne after this event.
Some of the major fires that have happened in Calne have occurred in and around the mills. Such as the fire next to Kew Lane mill (now Anchor Road). A fire in 1815, saw a warehouse or factory likely destroyed by fire as the Salisbury Journal reported "the engines were immediately procured, but from want of practice they did little service".
In 1884, it was the mill that experienced the destruction of fire. By this time, the road was called Cow Lane, and the mill was occupied by Mr. Robertson. The fire was discovered around one o'clock on 29 February 1884. Luckily Mr. Robertson, who occupied the house next to the mill, escaped without harm, however the mill and house were completely gutted, with only a cottage attached to the south west of the mill surviving. The mill was owned by Lord Lansdowne, who may have repaired the mill.[2] However, by 1899, the buildings had been demolished. The likely home for the mill was on the island near Brewers Lane.
Horsebrook Mill was another that faced a series of fires, and in 1962, Moss' mill was destroyed by fires. In 1967, Castle House was partially destroyed by fire.
We are fortunate to have a fantastic on-call crew that operate from Calne Fire Station on Station Road.
Let's hope Calne never has to experience such devastation again.
References:
[1] Marsh, A., 1903. A HISTORY OF THE BOROUGH AND TOWN OF CALNE. 1st ed. London: HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LTD.
[2] "Fire at Calne" Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 06 March 1884 [ONLINE] Available at https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000360/18840306/069/0004 [Accessed on 19 April 2020]
