Village History
STEEPLE CLAYDON FIRES
TWO COTTA’ E 3 DEsTRUYED BY FIRE. This village was considerably excited early on Saturday morning by the cry of ” It sprats that Mrs. Joseph Whiting, who resides near the Post-utli2e, was about very early (4.45 a.m.) owing to the illness of her husimnd, and noticed sm.,ke issuing from the thatched roof of two cottages standing back in gardens in Queen Katherine-road. She at once proceeded to the houses and roused the inmates, who appareatly were all sound asleep. The tenants were James Webb, wife and tour ohildren, sad Joseph Beckett, wife and eight children. By this time the flames had obtained such a hold on the roof, which soon commenced fallin4 in, that several of the children had to leave the honer partially naked and complete their dressing outside. Several people were soon on the spot rendering assistance, including Sergi. White and the Rev. C. Baas (vicar). The majority of the furniture was removed. The Middle Claydon tire brigade was sent for, and was soon in attendance, and rendered valuable assistance in eatioguiehing the tire. The origin of the tire is a mystery. The property is owned by Sir E. Verney, Claydon House, and only recently Mr. Leonard Bell, sanitary inspector of the Buckingham Rural District Council, had reported the cottage occupied by Beckett as being overcrowded, it possessing but one bedroom, which was divided, and it was used by Beckett and his wife, one adult son, one adult daughter, and six children. The tenants were able to secure other houses, owing to the fact that at the present time there are a few unoccupied cottages in the village. Fortunately the two cottages were isolated, so that the danger of the firs spreading further was not very great, the nearest other building being that of Mr. G. W. Ingram’s, The Beeches, which, owing to the fact of it having a stilted roof, was not in any great danger from the hire.
