1-158-942 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

'Fire in London', 1808. Albion Mills, on the south side of Blackfriars Bridge, London, burning, on 3 March 1791, after the mills were set alight by arsonists. Firemen with hand-powered pumps are doing their best to control the flames, and further pumps are being rushed across the bridge from the city. On the far side of the the river Thames, St Paul's Cathedral towers over all other buildings. Built by Boulton and Watt in 1786, Albion Mills was the first steam-powered flour mill in London. The engineer for the mill machinery was John Rennie (1761-1821), and the architect was James Wyatt (1746-1813). From The Microcosm of London published by Rudolph Ackermann. (London 1808-1810).