Extract from the Derby Mercury - Wednesday 01 August 1888

SERIOUS FIRE AT LITTLE EATON.

A serious fire took place early on Saturday morning at Little Eaton, resulting in the partial destruction of Messrs. Cudlip and Sons' Brook Paper Mills.

It appears that at about midnight on Friday a couple of men, who were engaged in pumping water from a trial hole at the Derby Corporation Waterworks at Little Eaton, perceived an indication of fire at the mills. They at once left their work and ran into Little Eaton, shouting " fire" most lustily. Turning from the main road on to the tramway leading to Little Eaton railway station they discovered that the Brook Paper Mills were well alight.

Their cries bad aroused the neighbourhood, and Mr. Cudlip, who lives within twenty yards of the mill, was soon on the spot. This gentleman at once dispatched Mr. Bunting, his coachman, on horseback to the Derby Police station to solicit the services of the steam fire-engine.

Arrived at the Town Hall, Bunting was sent to the Full-street fire brigade depot, which he lost no time in reaching, only to find that the steamer is not allowed to be be taken to fires occurring outside of the borough. He then rode to the Midland Railway Station, and solicited the assistance of the company's firemen with their appliances.

His request was at once complied with, a powerful steam engine was put on a trolley, a locomotive was attached to it, and, fully manned, it was taken to Little Eaton Station, where a slight but unavoidable delay occurred .

The gates at the level crossing are closed and locked against trains at night, and the pointsman who is responsible for their security had to be found to unfasten them. Not anticipating the engine being brought by special train, no efforts had been taken, until the train actually arrived, to get the gates opened.

Messrs. Tempest and Son's, Peckwash Paper Mills, are in close proximity to Brook Mills, and at them men are employed by night as well as day. Mr. Harvey Tempest, who had been to a dinner party, arrived in Little Eaton just after the discovery of the fire, and with a generosity most highly commendable he at once proceeded to his own works, stopped operations, manned his own manual fire engine, and dispatched the whole of his staff with it to Brook Mills.

Fortunately a brook runs through the mill-yard and a copious supply of water was ready at hand. Mr. Tempest's men worked valiantly in the drenching rain that was falling and undoubtedly by their timely assistance rescued the principal portion of the valuable machinery from total destruction, and confined the conflagration to the store and adjacent rooms in the block of the buildings nearest to the brook. As soon as the railway gates were unfastened the Midland Railway Company's steam engine was run alongside the brook, parallel with which is a colliery siding. Of course steam was fully up, the suction pipes and hose had been fixed during the delay to which we have referred, and as soon as the engine was put in position the necessary couplings were completed, and amid cheers from several hundred spectators a powerful stream of water was thrown on to the burning building, through the roof of which flames were already issuing. The manual engine was no longer necessary to attack the main body of the flames, so it was devoted to cooling the adjacent premises, which were in imminent peril for several hours. Shortly before seven o'clock on Saturday morning the steam engine had completed its work, and most valuable had its operations proved.

Three buildings and their contents had been destroyed, the latter comprising a large quantity of paper, brown and cap paper being the principal descriptions manufactured by the firm. Some machinery suffered injury, and the engine and engine house were damaged by fire and water. It is estimated that several thousands of pounds worth of damage has been done, the place was insured. The origin of the fire is not known. The whole of the hands had been having a week's holiday while the machinery and the buildings generally underwent necessary repairs. The repairers left the premises at 6 o'clock on the previous evening everything then being apparently safe.

Three months ago the whole of the mills were fitted up with electric light, and a month ago the use of gas was entirely abolished, so that the origin of the fire cannot be attributed to any escape of gas. It evidently broke out in a store room containing several tons of waste paper, and when we visited the spot at ten o'clock on Saturday night the debris was still smouldering. It has not been customary to have a watchman stationed in the mills at night; but, of course, since the fire, a man has been constantly on the alert to prevent any fresh outbreak from the smouldering paper and timber.

In the absence of the police, a number of Messrs. Tempest's men were told to keep the crowd from impeding the operations of the fire-men, and to protect the surrounding premises from trespassers. Amongst those who visited the scene on Saturday afternoon was Chief Engineer Ottewell, of the Derby Borough Fire Brigade. The refusal to send the Derby Borough steam fire engine was the subject of angry comment, not only during the progress of the fire, but subsequently throughout the village and neighbourhood.

It should be added, however, that the refusal was in accordance with a decision of the Town Council.

Brook Mills employed over fifty hands, who have been thrown out of employment. The work of rebuilding will, we understand, be commenced with the least possible delay, but a considerable time must necessarily elapse before the mills can be restarted.