2-982-150 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Great Fire at Brooks's Wharf, Queenhithe, [London], 1876. 'The...fire took place [in] a large bonded warehouse...having an extensive river frontage, in the occupation of Messrs. John Warner and Sons, merchants...about ten minutes past five the whole City was alarmed by huge masses of dense smoke rising suddenly into the air...The whole available strength of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was speedily brought into requisition...for two hours, so dense were the smoke and steam, the firemen never saw the upper floors of the building, and their hose had to be brought up over fire-escapes and ladders to the roofs of adjacent premises. About seven o'clock the roof of the building fell in, carrying with it what remained of the three upper floors, in one of which the fire had broken out, and from that time the fire was under control...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.