The Great Fire, Stanford Hall, 22 September 1907

I recently saw advertised for sale a postcard entitled, The Great Fire, Stanford Hall, 22/9/07. The printer of the postcard was F.J. Mott of Ongar. My curiosity roused I purchased the postcard and discovered the story behind the picture in the locl newspapers:

GREAT FARM FIRE

TWENTY-TWO STACKS
and
MANY BUILDINGS DESTROYED

ONGAR DISTRICT ROUSED

On Sunday afternoon a farm fire of alarming proportions occurred at Stanford Hall, Stanford Rivers, near Ongar. The mischief started among the corn stacks in the farm yard, about two o’clock. Within a few minutes it seemed that the yard had been transformed into a sea of fire, for no less than 22 stacks were in process of being incinerated. The whole countryside, not only as far as Ongar, but miles away in the direction of Epping, was roused, and people walked long distances to the scene. About three o’clock, the horn which rouses the Epping Fire Brigade was sounded, and in a comparatively short time that brigade had reached the place and joined forces with the Ongar Brigade, who were already on the spot, and working hard under Capt. Burrell. All the neighbouring farmers and their men turned out to give what assistance they could, but the distressing want of water made all efforts to put out the flames seem paltry by comparison with the size of the fire. In the result it may be said the brigades very wisely concentrated all their effort and whole of the water at their disposal upon saving the dwelling-house, which was menaced with very serious danger. Without doubt, their excellent work in this direction saved the building. As may be imagined the heat was very great, and the fire was still burning, of course in a diminished form, for several days. In addition to the 22 stacks, nearly all the minor farm buildings were destroyed. It may be said that the whole of the produce of the farm had been gathered into the yard, so that the fire occurred at a most inopportune time.

Stanford Hall is in the occupation of Messrs. R. and B. Bingley, who have resides there for about four years and have earned the respect and esteem of the whole neighbourhood by their geniality and kindness. The farm used to be in the occupation of Mr. David Christy.

The damage is estimated at £3,000. It is partly covered by insurance.

Later inquiries show that the details of Messrs. Bingley’s great loss are as follows;
Twelve wheat stacks, five oat stacks, one barley stack, two straw stacks, and two pea stacks; cowhouse and bullock shed, chaff house, root house, and the dog and fowl houses.

When the safety of the house had been assured, the fire brigades devoted their efforts to saving the stables and the chief farm buildings, and this also they accomplished. Three ponds were emptied of their contents during the fire. Where the stacks stood in the yard is now simply a mass of scattered debris, the sad remains of an excellent harvest.

________________________

At the meeting of the Ongar Board of Guardians, on Tuesday, Mr. R.H. Browne asked if it was within the province of the Board to express their sympathy with Messrs. Bingley. The Chairman: It is not a matter in which we can do anything officially, but I am certain that Messrs. Bingley have the keen sympathy of every one of us (Hear, hear).