Oast fire (1822)

Post date: Mar 17, 2018 3:52:29 PM

Extract from Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Tuesday 17 September 1822

About five o'clock on Monday morning a fire broke out in the hop oast belonging to J. Ellis, Esq.¹ situate at Wateringbury, which in a short time destroyed the whole of the building, together with a quantity of hops drying in the kilns.

Notes:

1. James Ellis was the tenant of Westbury Manor Farm (now Manor farm). At the time of the tithe survey in 1839 this was his only property in Wateringbury. He had extensive holdings in other parishes.

2. For other hop related fires see Hopping 1855; Hopper house fire (1865); Arson threat (1868); Oast fire (1759); Leney Hops destroyed by fire (1883).

3. An identical report is in the Oxford University and City Herald - Saturday 21 September 1822 but is not in more local papers.