Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 13 June 1884

Alarming Fire at Winterwell.

About half past one on Saturday morning last, Mrs. Frankland, wife of Joseph Frankland ,painter and general dealer, residing in a house situated at the corner of York street, was awakened by a noise which sounded as if some one was attempting to rear a ladder against the house.

She called her husband, who partly dressed himself and proceeded down-stairs. He found that the lower rooms were filled with smoke, and, on attempting to open the inner door between the house and the shop, was almost suffocated. He ran to the outer door to get his breath but found that the smoke had increased in intensity so that he was unable to return to his bedroom.

He then raised an alarm and obtained a ladder which he place under the window of the room in which he had Ieft his wife and youngest child. Seizing the child he made his way to the window with it and succeeded in bringing it to a place of safety. His wife followed and Frankland returned to the house where four children were sleeping. He succeeded in bringing them to the ladder and the last child was rescued only a few minutes before the roof of the house fell in.

Frankland himself was slightly burnt and his hair was singed. Including the stock in trade he calculates his loss at £250. A man named Pearson, who helped the children down the ladder states that he saw three suspicious looking men watching the fire He asked them to render assistance, but they refused, and shortly afterwards departed.

The Wath and Wentworth fire engines were sent for but by the time they arrived the fire had gained a firm hold of four adjoining houses.

The Wath brigade could not get any horses and had to push their engine to the scene of the conflagration. A large crowd had assembled in the street, but the police, under Sergeant Blanchard, succeeded in maintaining order. Frankland’s house was entirely gutted and the four other houses were greatly damaged, little more than the bare walls remaining. The houses are the property o f Mrs. Talbot. The estimated amount of the damage is £800; the buildings, however, are insured in the Alliance Office for £500.

The Wath fire brigade, under the direction of Mr. Tasker, soon got to work and a plentiful supply of water being obtained, the fire was prevented from spreading. Fortunately, there was scarcely any wind at the time or the whole of the row of houses in York street must have succumbed to the flames.

The Wentworth fire brigade, under the captaincy of Mr Dickie, were summoned at five o’clock, and were on the spot at 5.40, but their services were not required.

Frankland had no time to save any of his furniture, and was dependant on the charity of a neighbour for a coat. His children had on nothing but their night clothes when rescued. Mr. Rothery kindly offered them a shelter until other arrangements could be made.

George Clarke, miner Winterwell road, was awakened by the neighbours and discovered that his room was full of smoke. He managed to get all the remaining inhabitants of the house, seven in number, to a place of safety. He estimates the damage to his furniture at £20.

Frederick Broadhead and a man named Worrell, whose families lived in the adjoining houses, were at work when the fire occurred. The loss of the former was not much, but Worrall estimates his loss at £10.

Beaumont, who lived in 4 York Road, computes the damage caused to his property at £3, as he had time to save most of his household goods.