2-913-841 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Great Fires, at Newcastle and Gateshead - sketched from the High-Level Bridge, 1854. Massive explosion after a warehouse fire. 'From the various floors...huge masses of melted tallow and lead flowed in copious streams. The eight storied edifice was one mass of flame, and from every landing melted sulphur and tallow and fused lead were descending in luminous showers. It resembled a cataract on fire...Burning brands were then scattered over the roofs of the adjoining houses, and widely extended the conflagration...The quay on the Newcastle side of the river was literally strewed with burning staves and rafters, covered with sulphur, and burning like matches...About fifty soldiers from the garrison were advancing with the fire-engine, when the explosion met them, killing two and wounding thirty out of the remainder... many persons are said to have been buried in the ruins'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.