Mexborough and Swinton Times May 22, 1936

Petrol Pumps Threatened
Fierce Blaze near Conisborough

A group of wooden buildings at Butterbusk, near Conisborough, were destroyed by a fire which blazed fiercely on Tuesday, while only 20 yards away were two petrol pumps, with large tanks underground. Fortunately, the wind was blowing in the opposite direction.

The fire was of a disastrous nature. Mr Edgar George Barber, fire wood dealer, Cliff Field, Butterbusk, lost his home, all his household furniture, his workshop, stable and 80 tons of firewood.

An adjoining bungalow in which Mrs Annie Roberts, a widow, lived, was also completely destroyed, but practically the whole of her furniture was saved. A pigsty belonging to her son David Roberts, was burned down, but the pigs were saved.

By a stroke of luck Mr Barber’s lorry was in use elsewhere, but the chassis of another vehicle was destroyed.

The pigsty represented the whole of Mr D Roberts savings, “I have saved up for such a long time to buy that sty,” he told a reporter.

Mr Barber said that the fire broke out in the engine house of the sawmill, and spread very rapidly. Within an hour the whole of the buildings were gutted.

Both the Doncaster and Conisbrough Fire Brigades were on the scene