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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 18 May 1946
Page 8 Column 4
BIG TAUNTON FIRE
CORN MERCHANTS' PREMISES GUTTED
TWO HORSES PERISH IN THE FLAMES
Hundreds of people watched Taunton, Wellington and Bridgwater Fire Brigades, with four engines, fight a Taunton blaze, which could be seen for miles round the town late on Saturday night.
Two cart horses were burned to death and three others were brought out from their loose boxes in the stables early in the fire.
The outbreak occurred in the Station-road yard belonging to Messrs. G. Small & Sons, Ltd., corn merchants, and the damage to stables, stores, waggons and other property is estimated at several thousands of pounds
GRAIN DESTROYED.
The stores adjoining the stables contained grain, cattle cake, fertilisers and other goods to meet Messrs. Small's current trade. All were destroyed, but the quantities fortunately, were smaller than are usually in stock.
The horses were described by directors of Messrs. Small as “very valued old friends of the Company.”
Residents in the Burlington Hotel, Station-road, discovered the fire at about 10.30 p.m. From widows overlooking Messrs. Small's yard they saw smoke and a glow, and immediately used the “999” emergency telephone service to call the Fire Brigade, which made a quick response. They augmented the hydrant supply of water by pumping from the River Tone.
BUILDINGS GUTTED.
The section of the stables in which the two horses died were well alight when the brigades arrived. The gutted buildings were of wood and brick with corrugated iron roofing and covered an area of about 100 feet by 40 feet. Several of the roofs collapsed after the premises had become a raging furnace.
The grain store, the roof of which was extensively damaged, adjoins the skittle alley of the Crown and Sceptre Hotel, but this did not become involved, although part of the dividing wall of Messrs W. T. Purchase's market garage and car park in Priory Bridge-road collapsed owing to the intense heat
HOTEL GUESTS MAKE READY.
Resident guests in the Burlington Hotel took the precaution of preparing to leave, owing to the close proximity to the fire, but the brigades prevented the outbreak spreading to any part of the hotel or to other valuable business and residential properties fronting Messrs. Small's yard in Station-road.
The firemen had the blaze fully under control within two hours, but a contingent remained on duty throughout the night under the charge of Column Officer REVELLE.