7 Clifford St
Almond’s Hotel
W.
Thursday August 17th 1871
My dear Henry
I arrived here all safe though very tired. I saw my neighbour next day – & did various other matters of business.
Just as I was going to bed, at ½ past eleven, we heard a loud cry, prolonged & repeated which my maid fancied was merely some men shouting in the street – But it had a very peculiar, dismal sound, & at last we heard distinctly, “Fire, fire”! On rushing to the front window, we saw a great conflagration in the Burlington Arcade, wh exactly faces this house, at the end of Cork Street. I put on my clothes again & went out with my maid & William. If we could have gone at once, we should have seen it well – for there was scarcely one person in the street – But the whole house was asleep, & it was very difficult to rouse anyone – So by the time we arrived on the scene, there was a small crowd collected. I could have easily got through it – but they seemed a rude set, taking no interest in the fire. One Steam fire engine worked away till 2 o’clock when the fire was got under. At one moment it looked very bad indeed, when a sheet of flame shot up over the roofs of the houses.
Today I went to see the wreck – & was surprized to find that the fire had taken place nearer to the Piccadilly end, where I believe most of the engines were stationed;
2
for at this distance it appeared to be quite close to this end.
The fire began on the left side going down – & very quickly spread to the opposite side. There were 8 shops entirely destroyed – 4 on each side – leaving only black skeletons standing, with heaps of ashes & broken glass. The heat must have penetrated through the very high wall which runs along the back of the shops – for it was quite blackened –
The new buildings of Burlington House were not damaged – as there is a narrow passage between them & the high wall.
I went to the British Museum today – but it was shut unluckily. I must try again.
Yr affte sister
Caroline