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Fire at The Singleton Row Windmill on Harrison Hill

Fire at The Singleton Row Windmill
on Harrison Hill in Preston


Craggs Row, Formerly Singleton Row, Windmill Inside. Photograph by Tim Smith


ALARMING FIRE. About a quarter to twelve o'clock on Monday night, an alarm was given at the fire-brigade station that the wind corn mill in Singleton-row, Harrison-hill, in the occupation of Mr. Henry Walker, was on fire. A full complement of men were soon got together, and hastened to the mill with one engine, and on their arrival found the flames issuing from the doors and windows of the two lower storeys, and also from the door communicating with the stage that surrounds the mill at the third storey. It was at once seen that one engine would not be sufficient to subdue the fire, and another was immediately sent for. The lower part of the mill had the appearance of an immense furnace, and the heat and smoke utterly forbade any attempt to extinguish the fire from below. The men accordingly spliced some ladders together, and laid them from the roof of an adjacent low building to stage of the mill, and by crossing the bridge thus formed got one branch of piping in at the door of the third storey. The second engine had now arrived, and was placed opposite to the Windmill Inn; but it was found that no water could be obtained to supply it nearer than Moor-lane, a distance of about 300 yards. A branch from this engine was got into the storey above the landing stage, but as the fire still kept a-head of the efforts to subdue it, and was getting still higher in the mill, the superintendent, Mr. Marriott, seeing that unless the men could get above the fire their efforts would be comparatively of little use, directed four fire-ladders to be spliced together on the landing stage, and erected thereon. This was a labour of considerable difficulty and danger, as the ladders, when raised, were nearly upright, and standing against a circular wall were extremely liable to be blown down by the furious wind which then prevailed, or by the slightest mischance might slip aside. It was, therefore, an exploit requiring considerable courage and dexterity to ascend these ladders to the "cap" of the mill; but, though the flames actually burnt the ladders while the men were upon them, and the sails of the mill began to revolve without the regulation of the internal guiding machinery, thus increasing fear-fully the hazard of the attempt, the feat was performed without accident, and the men succeeded in getting a branch pipe into play at the top storey but one, and after a short time managed to get into the building. The flames were completely under control at two o'clock. Finally the men were enabled to enter the cap of the mill, and the fire was extinguished at half-past four o'clock. The damage to the building, which is the property of Mr. Proctor, of Claughton, near Garstang, will not be very great. The stock, principally oat seeds, was very light, and is covered by insurance in the Unity Office. The fire-Brigade say this was the most difficult and hazardous fire they have ever had to encounter.


LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
Date: Saturday, Apr. 10, 1858

Publication: Preston Chronicle 

Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/Y3207449255/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=4&xid=d1075621


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TO BE LET WIND CORN MILL Singleton-row Mill, Preston. Advertisements & Notices, Preston Chronicle, 1849.


TO BE LET,

For a term of years, and entered upon on the 1st November next,

ALL that WIND CORN MILL, with the going and running gear thereto, known by the name of "Singleton-row Mill," and the Stable adjoining it, now in the occupation of John Barnes, as tenant, who will shew the premises.. For further particulars apply to Mr. HENRY RISHTON,

Corn Merchant, Lord-street, Preston; Mr. HENRY PROCTOR, Myerscough; or Mrs. PARK, 26, Great Avenham-street, Preston. The Mill will be put in good and tenantable repair, and proposals will be received by the above until the 24th day

of July next. June 19th, 1849.

[This advertisement will not be repeated.]


Advertisements & Notices
Date: Saturday, June 30, 1849

Publication: Preston Chronicle 

Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/Y3207431651/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=1&xid=a5af91df


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TO BE LET BY PROPOSAL WIND CORN MILL Singleton-row, Preston. Advertisements & Notices, Preston Chronicle, 1856.


TO BE LET BY PROPOSAL, and entered upon on the 1st day of November next, ALL that WIND CORN MILL, situate in Singleton-row, within Preston, called or known by the name of "Singleton's Mill," now in the occupation of John Rawsthorn, as tenant thereof. Adjoining the mill is a ware-room, which has been used for selling flour by retail; also a stable. These will be let either with the mill or separately. The tenant will show the premises; and for further particulars apply to Mrs. ANNE PARKE, 29, Great Avenham-street; or to Mr. EDWARD ROSSALL, 9, Victoria-St., Preston.


Advertisements & Notices
Date: Saturday, June 21, 1856

Publication: Preston Chronicle

Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/Y3207445829/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=1&xid=f5f083cd



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Craggs Row Windmill (formerly known as Singleton Row)
Craggs Row Windmill (formerly known as Singleton Row)


Craggs Row Windmill in Preston. The tower of former windmill, probably from the early 19th century, as listed on the National Heritage List for England.  It is the only surviving example in the town, and one of the few survivors in the county.



~


Singleton Row Windmill (corn) from Preston Sheet 11
Singleton Row Windmill (corn) from Preston Sheet 11

Ordnance Survey Preston Sheet 11
This map contains evidence of the Factory, Friargate, Parr Croft, Singleton Row (Craggs Row) and Snow Hill Windmills.

The map was surveyed in 1847 and published in 1849.
(Railway revision to c. 1856).  Reprinted: 1882 
Size: map 64.4 cm x 96.6 cm (25.344 x 38.016 inches), on sheet ca. 72 x 104 cm (ca. 28 x 41 inches)


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Tim Smith via Preston Past and Present Facebook Group
(credit for the first photograph inside the windmill)

A look 👀 inside Craggs Row Windmill, October 2020. Tucked away on a side street just off Moor lane next to the cop shop. The six story Grade 2 listed mill, Preston’s only surviving windmill albeit minus its sails, is believed to have been constructed in 1760 and lost its sails in 1880. It was originally a corn mill. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prestonpastandpresent/permalink/4005339596364894/


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Location: Cragg's Row, Preston, UK

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