Fire at Public Market Hall, Market Square

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iBase ID

226970

Reference identifier

ENE130820081052

Title

Fire at Public Market Hall, Market Square

Place

Nelson

General notes

Nelson's market hall was built in 1889. The clock tower was added in 1904.
The market was destroyed by fire 11/03/1932. A boy first noticed the fire that Friday night and rushed to the nearby Police Station.
Although the Fire Brigade was only stationed on Booth Street, the fire was already out of control.
A hard frost hindered them with as the water froze.
The filigree work around the clock face could be seen melting and running down the front of the building.
At 10.00pm the clock sounded its own death kneel and the hands dropped to 10.30. For 26 years it had chimed with unfailing regularity.
£80,000 of damage was recorded.
A temporary market was erected on the site until it moved to the Arndale Centre in 1965.

Medium

Photographic print

Colour

Monochrome

Original image size

23.9/18.8cm

Year of image

12/03/1932

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Locator

M83/16

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