Page 346 - Reading Mercury

th
Sat 24 Sept.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WARREN FARM, BINFIELD
One of the most serious and destructive fires which has occurred in the
neighbourhood of Wokingham since 1872 when Mr. T.M. Wescott’s timber premises
in Peach Street were burnt to the ground, took place on Tuesday night at Old Warren
farm, the property of Lord Braybrooke, situated about midway between Bill Hill and
Billingbear and the town of Wokingham. There seems but little doubt that the fire was
the work of some incendiary, who must have watched his opportunity when favoured
by darkness and wind, to ensure the widest destruction and his own personal safety in
flight. It is understood that a suspicious individual was seen in the neighbourhood of
the fire the same evening.
It appears that Mr. Edward Benning, the bailiff under Mr. Groves (Lord
Braybrooke’s steward), saw the premises all safe about 8.30 p.m. Not more than a
quarter of an hour afterwards he was called out by John Johnson, a shepherd in the
service of Mr. Gilbert King, residing about a quarter of a mile off, who stated that
Miss Sarah King had seen a rick on firs, and sent him to give the alarm. Proceeding to
the rick yard they saw a straw rick in the extreme corner from the house rising into
full blaze, the fresh N.E. wind blowing the flames directly over the rick yard,
buildings, and dwelling house. About the same time Mr. Groves was aroused by the
continuous barking of his dog, and on coming out saw the blaze, but was prevented by
the intervening birch wood from seeing the exact spot. He, however, hurried forward
and soon found it was the Old Warren Farm. There are two ponds in the vicinity, but
in consequence of the long drought both were dry, and the three wells, from the same
cause, were exceedingly low. Mr. Groves saw at once that under the adverse
circumstances the services of the fire engine were superfluous, and he and a number
of people already coming in from the district, who willingly assisted, devoted their
energies to cutting a drift way between the barns and other buildings by the removal
of a portion of the cow sheds.
The Wokingham Fire Brigade was summoned by Supt. Atkin immediately the
extent and close proximity of the fire were discovered. At this time the flames were
raging furiously and threw quite a lurid glare over the town, but the exact locality or
distance was unknown or variously estimated. With praiseworthy promptitude the
Brigade assembled under the command of Mr. Ifould (the captain), and in a few
minutes from the alarm, had horsed their engine from the Railway Hotel, and were en
route in the direction of the conflagration. On arrival their total powerlessness to
subdue the flames was apparent, and after playing for a few minutes on the flames
nearest the driftway they lent valuable assistance towards rendering that space more
effective. While engaged in this work, through the tilting of a rafter, Firemen Caiger
and Hathaway were precipitated with considerable force to the ground from a height
of 14 or 15 feet. The latter was happily uninjured, but Caiger fell heavily on his head
and side, and it was deemed advisable to convey him home at once and call in Dr.
Hicks. Fortunately no bones were broken, but he was severely shaken and bruised, his
helmet, which was much dented, probably saving him from more serious injuries. The
Maiden Erlegh engine arrived some time after the Wokingham one, but its services
could not be utilised and it was taken back again. The Wokingham Brigade returned
about 1.30 a.m. There were in the rick-yard at the time—two wheat ricks, one of
barley, one of vetches, one straw, one hay, and one of beans, besides which the large
barn (70 feet long) and rick houses were crammed with unthreshed oats, peas and
barley (off 50 acres and an excellent crop). With the exception of the small bean rick,
which was saved by removal, the whole of the above was one volume of flame, rising

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