'The Great Fire in Cheapside'

A view of the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the warehouse of the ‘wine, spirit & tea merchants’ T. Foster & Co of 48 Cheapside on Thursday 1 September 1881.

A report on the fire appeared under the title ‘Destructive Fire in Cheapside' in the Bury and Norwich Post (13 September 1881). ‘Fire said to have been caused by a gas explosion, broke out about three o’clock on Thursday week in a building, No. 45, Cheapside, occupied by Messrs. Foster and Co., tea-merchants. The explosion of gas, it is stated, broke a large number of bottles containing spirits, and the spirits taking fire carried the flame with lightning-like rapidity over the floor. In less than ten minutes from the time of the outbreak the interior of the building was all on fire, and the premises to the right and left soon shared the misfortune. The heat also caused the fire to break out about half an hour later on the other side of Bread-street, at Nos. 46 and 47, Cheapside, the warehouse of Messrs. P. B. Cow, Hill and Co., india-rubber manufacturers.’

Photographer unidentified.

A printed caption in the lower margin reads: 'View of the Ruins of the Great Fire in Cheapside / On September 1st 1881.'

According to information printed on the reverse of a similar view distributed by Foster's: ‘The Fire was caused by a Gasfitter, employed by our tenant on the first floor, incautiously testing an escape of Gas with a lighted candle in his hand.’