Mexborough and Swinton Times, February 25, 1938

Disastrous  Fire  At Conisborough
Confectionery Warehouse Gutted
School and House Endangered
Children’s Unexpected Holiday

Damage estimated at about £7000 was done with a disastrous fire, the biggest in the town for many years, completely gutted the three story warehouse of Messrs J Drabble and Sons Ltd, manufacturing confectioners, of Old Road, Conisborough, on Wednesday afternoon

Discovered by Workmen

the outbreak is thought to have originated on the second floor and was discovered at 11:45 AM by one of the workmen, Mr W Maxfield, when former Secretary Miss I.G.Drabble.

In addition to informing the police and the local fire brigade, Miss Drabble, realising. the serious nature of the outbreak, got in touch With the Doncaster Fire Brigade, and they were soon on the scene in a very short time, under Superintendent Sutcliffe.

Owing to the fact that  this is one of the highest point in Conisborough, a serious problem arose with regard to water pressure and this was intensified by the great height of the blazing building. The Conisborough Volunteer fire brigade was confronted by a difficult task for by the time they arrived the flames were, rising 50 feet into the sky and dense clouds of smoke were pouring from the roof.

The arrival of the more powerful Doncaster engine was opportune and an adequate supply of water was pumped up. The firemen’s task however was rendered difficult by the fact that the building is not easily accessible.

There are narrow passages on either side of the premises and the only means of attacking the flames was through the front. The brigades managed to confine the outbreak to the one building and the Doncaster Corporation brigade was able to return in the middle of the afternoon. But the Conisborough and Denaby firemen had a  long job before them, for flames were still to be seen when evening came and the building was smouldering far into the night.

Only three yard from the long wall of the building, fortunately had not one single window in it, is the Morley Place Junior and Infants School. When  the alarm was given, the 500 boys and girls were quickly escorted out or the school to safety in perfect order. Fortunately the exits in Morley  Place were well away from the fire, and what wind there was was blowing from the schooL The children showed no signs of panic, a tribute to the fire drill they have regularly received.

In view of the possible danger of parts of the gutted building collapsing no school session was held during the afternoon, and the excited scholars were among the hundreds of onlookers in the vicinity’ of the warehouse.

Threat To House.

On the other side of the ‘warehouse is the house of Mr. G. Glasbey and this was or a long time in considerable danger. Willing helpers, among them the Rev. S. B. Coley, Parish Church curate, assisted in the evacuation of the furniture. The house suffered a certain amount of damage from fire and water, but the occupants were able to put back their furniture in the middle of the afternoon, when all danger of the fire spreading had been averted.

The firm used this three-storey building for the stocking of confectionery and its contents were so inflammable that the premises were completely  gutted in under 90 minutes and nothing but the shell remained. The staff managed to get out of the building, but scarcely any stock was salvaged. i

The managing director, M J. Drabble, was at Penistone at a directors’ meeting, of the Penistone Vinegar Brewery Company, but was telephoned or and returned by car immediately. He stated that, though there would necessarily be a dislocation of business arrangement had been made to carry on. The houses, which house the soaps, tinned goods and other commod ties, are in North Cliff Road, and were not affected.

Large Crowds.

Large crowds gathered to watch the spectacular blaze, and extra police had to be drafted in from Dehaby and Edlington, and Special Constables rendered assistance. Supt. T. Gordon, of the Doncaster Division of the West Riding Constabulary, was on the spot.

Traffic was seriously inconvenienced. Through traffic from Conisborough to Conanby had to be diverted, and the ‘buses on-the Doncaster-Sheffield-Rotherham Corporations’ joint service from Sheffield to Doncaster via Conanby had to turn on their tracks to the through main road route. The Conisborough High Manvers Main trackless service was disorganised. One ‘bus was trapped at the Conanby terminus for over three hours, and others had to tum round at the Castle gates.

The electricity supplies were also affected, and the Yorkshire. Electric Power Company had to send engineers to rectify matters. Telegraph Poles carry 26 lines within a yard of the warehouse, but owing to the direction of the wind not one line was severed.

All-Night Duty.

Four firemen remained , on duty all through the night and all day on-Thursday lorries carted debris from the mass which was still smouldering late last night A large safe containing account books was: found yesterday with its contents-intact and undamaged.

The children of Morley Place° Infants’ School resumed yesterday, but the scholars of the junior department are still on holiday. They should be able to `return on Monday when safety measures will have been taken.

Damage estimated at about £7000 was done with a disastrous fire, the biggest in the town for many years, completely gutted the three story warehouse of Messrs J Drabble and Sons Ltd, manufacturing confectioners, of Old Road, Conisborough, on Wednesday afternoon

Discovered by Workmen

the outbreak is thought to have originated on the second floor and was discovered at 11:45 AM by one of the workmen, Mr W Maxfield, when former Secretary Miss I.G.Drabble.

In addition to informing the police and the local fire brigade, Miss Drabble, realising. the serious nature of the outbreak, got in touch With the Doncaster Fire Brigade, and they were soon on the scene in a very short time, under Superintendent Sutcliffe.

Owing to the fact that  this is one of the highest point in Conisborough, a serious problem arose with regard to water pressure and this was intensified by the great height of the blazing building. The Conisborough Volunteer fire brigade was confronted by a difficult task for by the time they arrived the flames were, rising 50 feet into the sky and dense clouds of smoke were pouring from the roof.

The arrival of the more powerful Doncaster engine was opportune and an adequate supply of water was pumped up. The firemen’s task however was rendered difficult by the fact that the building is not easily accessible.

There are narrow passages on either side of the premises and the only means of attacking the flames was through the front. The brigades managed to confine the outbreak to the one building and the Doncaster Corporation brigade was able to return in the middle of the afternoon. But the Conisborough and Denaby firemen had a  long job before them, for flames were still to be seen when evening came and the building was smouldering far into the night.

Only three yard from the long wall of the building, fortunately had not one single window in it, is the Morley Place Junior and Infants School. When  the alarm was given, the 500 boys and girls were quickly escorted out or the school to safety in perfect order. Fortunately the exits in Morley  Place were well away from the fire, and what wind there was was blowing from the schooL The children showed no signs of panic, a tribute to the fire drill they have regularly received.

In view of the possible danger of parts of the gutted building collapsing no school session was held during the afternoon, and the excited scholars were among the hundreds of onlookers in the vicinity’ of the warehouie.

Threat To House.

On the other side of the ‘warehouse is the house of Mr. G. Glasbey and this was or a long time in considerable danger. Willing helpers, among them the Rev. S. B. Coley, Parish Church curate, assisted in the evacuation of the furniture. The house suffered a certain amount of damage from fire and water, but the occupants were able to put back their furniture in the middle of the afternoon, when all danger of the fire spreading had been averted.

The firm used this three-storey building for the stocking of confectionery and its contents were so inflammable that the premises were completely  gutted in under 90 minutes and nothing but the shell remained. The staff managed to get out of the building, but scarcely any stock was salvaged. i

The managing director, M J. Drabble, was at Penistone at a directors’ meeting, of the Penistone Vinegar Brewery Company, but was telephoned or and returned by car immediately. He stated that, though there would necessarily be a dislocation of business arrangement had been made to carry on. The houses, which house the soaps, tinned goods and other commod ties, are in North Cliff Road, and were not affected.

Large Crowds.

Large crowds gathered to watch the spectacular blaze, and extra police had to be drafted in from Dehaby and Edlington, and Special Constables rendered assistance. Supt. T. Gordon, of the Doncaster Division of the West Riding Constabulary, was on the spot.

Traffic was seriously inconvenienced. Through traffic from Conisborough to Conanby had to be diverted, and the ‘buses on-the Doncaster-Sheffield-Rotherham Corporations’ joint service from Sheffield to Doncaster via Conanby had to turn on their tracks to the through main road route. The Conisborough High Manvers Main trackless service was disorganised. One ‘bus was trapped at the Conanby terminus for over three hours, and others had to tum round at the Castle gates.

The electricity supplies were also affected, and the Yorkshire. Electric Power Company had to send engineers to rectify matters. Telegraph Poles carry 26 lines within a yard of the warehouse, but owing to the direction of the wind not one line was severed.

All-Night Duty.

Four firemen remained , on duty all through the night and all day on-Thursday lorries carted debris from the mass which was still smouldering late last night A large safe containing account books was: found yesterday with its contents-intact and undamaged.

The children of Morley Place° Infants’ School resumed yesterday, but the scholars of the junior department are still on holiday. They should be able to `return on Monday when safety measures will have been taken.