The Great Fire of Spalding
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Everyone has heard of the Great Fire of London... but on 2nd April 1715 there was a Great Fire of Spalding!
Starting in a blacksmith’s shop in the Abbey Yard, sparks were blown by high winds onto the surrounding thatched roofs. In the space of four hours, eighty-four houses and buildings around the market place were destroyed, including the town hall with its cupola, in which was hung the town bell.
There was only one casualty of the fire - a naval engineer who sadly lost his life blowing up a property opposite the Old White Hart; by his sacrifice however he ultimately contained the fire.
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