H6396

The Tooley Street fire Long Caption: A dramatic 'Illustrated London News' depiction of the Tooley Street fire, which broke out on 23 June 1861. The fire started in consignment of jute stored at Scovell's warehouse at Cotton's Wharf. This was the biggest of all the peacetime fires in the port: it raged for two days and destroyed most of the nearby buildings. It was the greatest test of the new London Fire Engine Establishment. The whole force was mobilised to fight the blaze, including its head, James Braidwood, who was killed when a wall fell on him. It was a full two weeks before the remaining embers were finally doused. Illustration from Illustrated London News, 29 June 1861. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: ILN Artist: Illustrated London News Date: 1861 Medium: print Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.