Fires, fire fighting and Explosions in and around Stowupland
The worst accident to occur in Stowupland occured in 1871 when the factory that manufactured gun cotton exploded.
In the mid 19th century there was a spate of fire setting, but calling out Stowmarket’s fire brigade had to be paid for.
During the incendiary outbreak of 1844 many fires were started under cover of the night in the Stowmarket area, as a form of rural protests against the working conditions of agricultural labourers. Stowmarket fire brigade were kept busy in the nearby villages.
An account book kept by the brigade at the time lists the expenses of each call out. Three fires in Stowupland are detailed: one at the Tithe Farm (Now The Uplands) where a barn and cottage were destroyed and two at Columbine Hall Farm. The expenses for these last two fires were as follows.
Expenses occasioned by the fires at Mr Boby’s
May 27th Horses for the engine & post lads £1:16. Distributed to men who assisted out all night £18:17:6
June 25th Horses etc for the engines £1:16. Distributed to men. £16:4. Suppers for the engine men being very wet £3. Frewer etc £15
June 30th Recd. From the Fire office £8. Aug 9th ditto £17:1. Balance due £17:7
The horses would have been hired from The Fox Hotel along with the post boys who would ride on the horses drawing the engines. The Fox also provided the suppers for the firemen. The large amount paid to those who assisted indicate that over a hundred must have turned up to help as they would have only got a couple of shillings each. Frewer was the brigade captain. The whole operation was very expensive, but the service of the fire engine didn’t come free, the tenant of the property was expected to recompense the brigade for the expense, fortunately Mr. Boby seems to have been insured.
And Charles Rayner Freeman’s Accounts books have more background on the expenses involved in a 19th century fire service.
In September 1854, a fire at Bramford Farm in Mill Street destroyed the barn, stable and outhouse and damaged the house. The work of rebuilding was done by builder Francis Betts.
From the Norfolk Chronicle, 23rd September 1797, a fire at Mr Batt’s barn caused by charcoal.
According to the Ipswich Chronicle , Nov 24th 1826, a fire broke at the wheelwright’s shop of Mr Hart.
Some expenses that had to be paid are shown in Stowupland Churchwardens account book. {SRO FB215/E2/1}.
1809 – 31 May Paid for playing the engine 2s
4th June – Paid for playing the engine 2s
1813 – April, for engine £1 15s 8d.
1815 – April, Steggalls bill for the engine £5 16s 3d
September 1895 report of a fire on premises, in the occupation of Mr Robert Boby of Columbyne Hall , but the fire was in the stackyard of his bailiff, Mr Joseph Berry. Altogether there were 9 stacks of barley, wheat, stover, seed clover, straw, hay and oat stacks, as well as 2 stacks from allotments. The fire start at noon and the alar, was raised by children who had been playing in the yard.
A messengers was sent to Stowmarket police station for the fire brigade but ‘some delay was occasioned by the absence of horses’. However when they arrived there was a plentiful supply of water and the fire was contained but with the stacks destroyed, one cart shed destroyed and several waggons.
Damage was estimated at £500, the property was insured with Norwich Union. The cause was blamed on children playing with lucifer matches.
Suffolk Chronicle, 19 November 1859 – report of a fire at an ‘off-hand’ farm of Mrs Pyman, Stowupland. It was believed the fire had been started deliberately as Mrs Pyman along with other local farmers had redueced wages from 9s to 8s a week.
This photo of the Stowmarket Fire Brigade from the 1912s was copied from Facebook on 23/12/2025. It had been shared by Stephen Baker.
A report from a Stowmarket Parish Council meeting suggests that be 1917 Stowmarket had a new ‘steam fire-engine’. There was concern that the town’s water supply would not be able to keep it supplied. Various suggestions were made from constructing special pits around the town to filling a canvas bag to be transported to the fire engine.
Not sure of the exact date but we have a story about a group of POWs who were helping with the harvest on a farm between Stowupland and Mendlesham. They were working on top of haystacks in the farmyard and from their high vantage point were able to see smoke from the farmhouse and raise the alarm. They then helped with carrying furniture out of the burning building.
1930’s Fire at Bays Farm, Forward Green
