The family record book tells us that the home of William and Emily Carpenter was 'entirely destroyed' on 1st May 1860. The cause of the destruction was not specified. One possibility - fire - has been researched and led us initially to newspaper accounts of a fire in Drummond Street (Drummond Crescent lies at the eastern end of this street) on the 2nd May 1860 which have been included below. Could this have been the cause of the destruction?

It was hoped that a look at the rate books would clarify where William Carpenter was living at this time. However, the rate books covering St Pancras Ward 6 for 1859 show that William Carpenter was not listed as paying rates at either 12 Drummond Crescent (or even at 12 Drummond Street). The names listed instead were John Dowdell (12 Drummond Street) and William Woodren^[1] (12 Drummond Crescent). This raises another question. Is it possible that the home that was entirely destroyed was at a different address not included in the family record book?

The receipt for payment for the burial of Edwin Decimus Carpenter in November 1858 gives an alternative address of Warren Street, Camden Town (which has since been renamed and is now known as Delancey Street) but this does not appear in the list of family homes in the family record book - are they living at a house in this street in 1860? Or is this the address of William's brother James? (Warren Street was a continuation of Pratt Street, where James was living in 1851, on the other side of Camden High Street).

In any case, a look at the maps that exist would suggest that neither 12 Drummond Crescent or 12 Drummond Street would have been near the fire^[2]. The fire in Drummond Street appears to have been a coincidence and nothing to do with the destruction of the family home. 

The St Pancras Reporter & North London Advertiser

Saturday May 5 1860

GREAT FIRE AT THE EUSTON HOTEL

On Wednesday evening, about 5 o’clock, the greatest excitement was caused in the immediate neighbourhood of the London and North Western Railway terminus, New-road, in consequence of a fire of no small magnitude breaking out in the company’s hotel, situate in Euston square.  The building in question was one of two which formed a half-circle; the south front being left open for carriages to enter, and the north for travellers to enter the hotels from the railway. The building on the south side was termed the Royal Victoria Hotel, and the one on the north, in which the fire commenced, was called the Euston. Both structures were six floors high, and had underground communications between the two. The Euston was most elaborately fitted up, so as to afford temporary accommodation for royalty or commercial travellers. Each building had ample room for ninety-three sleeping apartments; and what is termed the coffee-room of the Euston was splendidly appointed, there being not fewer than three massive chandeliers suspended from the ceiling; whilst the walls were covered with pictures by the ancient masters. It should here be stated that ninety three beds had been engaged for the night, and if the outbreak had taken place at an advanced hour it is impossible to even form an idea as to what might have been the consequence not only to property but also to human life, as may be gathered from the following:-

    At the time above stated some of the inmates experienced a strong smell of burning wood, and having informed Mr. Wheeler, one of the managers, a search was instituted, but no-one in the house could discover that any part of the place was on fire, and after a diligent search it was presumed that some wood had been burning in one of the kitchens. Shortly afterwards, however, a sergeant of the S division of police, in passing along the square, noticed a small flickering light at the side of a stack of chimneys on the north-west angle of the roof, but not of a character to excite anything like fearful apprehensions. He, however, very judiciously, apprised the inmates of what he had seen, and, upon examining the spot, it was found that part of the premises was on fire, and not to a little extent. All persons in the building were at once appraised of the danger of remaining in the hotel, and it is hardly necessary to state that they at once made a hasty retreat from the establishment. Several of the female servants, out of 20 in number who occupied the attics, were enabled to save some of their wearing apparel, but the majority of them have lost their all.

    In the course of a few minutes the engines belonging to the railway company were brought out, but the fire was then found to be extending right and left along the roof of the upper floor and making a noise amongst the timbers like the discharge of fire-arms. The officer in charge of these engines could at once see that they would be of little use in extinguishing so great a body of fire as was likely to follow, and he at once sent telegraphic messages to Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of the fire brigade at Watling-street, as well as to the stations in Crown-street, Farringdon-street, Holborn, and the Waterloo-road depots. The engines at each of these stations were turned out, including for the first time the powerful land steam engine, equal to three of the others. This force was under the command of Mr. Braidwood.

    Fortunately a large supply of water was quickly obtained, and the engines were put into operation, and some thousands of tons weight of water were discharged into the blazing floors.

    The conflagration, notwithstanding the water that was being thrown upon it, having fairly got into the roof, worked its way along and into each room at the top, and also into those of three or four houses in Drummond-street.

    Mr Superintendent Loxton and Inspector Macdonald, with a powerful body of the S division of police, were early in arriving, and they succeeded in clearing the square and Drummond-street, so as to allow the firemen to pursue their dangerous calling without interruption.

    By eight o’clock the fire was extinguished, but not until 62 rooms were destroyed or partially so, and the roof right round the building burned off. The origin of the catastrophe is not precisely known, nor yet the offices in which the property was insured.

The St Pancras News

Saturday May 5 1860 – No 56 [one halfpenny]

p3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE EUSTON HOTEL

This report was remarkably similar to the one above but much shorter, which might suggest that they were both based on a single source or written by the same person. For that reason I have not reproduced the text here, with the exception of the only paragraph that was different to the account above:

The conflagration soon became fearful to look upon, for the flames rose so high in the air that everyone was led to believe they would consume every portion of the extensive property, and many thousand spectators hurried to the spot to witness the scene.

The two newspapers are held by the British Library’s Newspaper Library at Colindale and are awaiting preservation at the time of writing (23rd August 2003).

Fire Engine Establishment - General Record of Fires in London, 1860

The register records this fire as entry no. 436 and gives the time of the fire as 4.30pm at the Euston Hotel, Euston Grove, Euston Square. The property was insured by the Globe (policy no. 281684) and Royal Exchange (policy no. 513029). According to the register 168 men attended the fire.