Crediton - a Town Jinxed By Fire? Part 1

The great fire of Crediton in 1743, when most of the High Street was destroyed, has been well documented. But less well known are the spate of fires to hit the town in the mid 19th century. In a two part report, Elly Babbedge describes these fires and asks whether they were accidental or deliberate.

In the morning of Sunday 14 August 1743 a great fire started in Crediton, almost completely destroying the High Street and buildings in the West Town. Was this a portent of things to come with the spate of fires that would follow, especially in East Town with its tightly packed workshops and thatched artisan dwellings? Or was it just pure bad luck? There certainly seem to have been more than the usual number of fires to be expected in a built-up area, and some were most definitely set by arsonists, possibly hoping to claim on their insurance policies. 

Here are just a few of the fires from a 10 year period. Accident or malicious intent? You decide.

• In May 1832 fire broke out in a baker’s shop near The White Swan resulting in 12 or 14 houses being destroyed.  
• In October 1834 a cottage near The Barton in East Town caught fire and by the time the fire was brought under control 16 houses, mostly recently rebuilt and occupied by poor people, were in ruins, with much furniture destroyed.
• In February 1836 14 thatched cottages were destroyed by a fire that started near The White Hart Inn. Some of these properties were insured.  
• One Friday afternoon in July 1840 a stable belonging to a tanner, Mr Francis, was destroyed by fire along with his workshop. ‘Expresses’ were sent to Exeter for the West of England, West Middlesex and Sun Alliance fire appliances which arrived as quickly as they could, but by that time 8 houses had been lost. The men stopped for refreshments and rest at 10.15pm that evening but by 1am the following morning flames were spotted in the roof of the house opposite and the ensuing fire destroyed a further 17 houses. The circumstances of the second fire were seen to be suspicious and a private investigation was carried out. But nobody was charged.  ‍

• ‍ July 1842: It was reported that ‘another of these disastrous fires (so frequent of late) broke out at the bottom of Bowden Hill’. It started in the thatched roof of Dunn’s schoolroom, where boys could obtain a free education, opposite the church. Within a few hours 32 houses had been destroyed. It was feared that the whole of Dean Street was under threat, especially as the wells were soon drained of water. Carts of water were fetched from the leat at Four Mills half a mile away and firemen managed to arrest the progress of the flames by ‘un-roofing’ several properties. Dunn’s schoolroom, with its massive oak timbers was still standing long after properties adjoining it had fallen in. ‘Expresses’ were sent to Exeter to fetch the West of England and the Norwich Union fire engines which arrived as fast as they could. The gates of the churchyard had been thrown open so that salvaged furniture and effects could be placed there. Many onlookers came that evening from the town to look at the devastation. The light of the flames had ‘a sublime and awful effect on the scene.’  ‍

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The story continues in PART TWO

There's lot's more LOCAL HISTORY here