Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 15, 1916
Mexborough Club Partly Gutted
£1,000 worth of Damage
A serious fire broke out in the Hope working men’s club, Carlisle Street, Mexborough, early on Friday morning, and gutting half the building.
Two youths, named John William Robinson and Stanley Lovett, at about 3 o’clock noticed smoke issuing from the club while they were engaged in knocking up railwaymen. Approaching the club, they discovered that it was on fire, and they drew the attention of PC Mowbray, who gave the fire alarm.
The Mexborough Fire Brigade turned out very smartly, but they encountered considerable difficulty in obtaining an efficient jet of water, and a delay of about half an hour was occasioned. The two nearby hydrants had been damaged and disabled by the cumulative action of heavy traffic, and the nearest sound hydrant was found that the corner of Pym road and Wellington Street. Connection was established here and later communication was established with the large rising main in Alexander Road, some 300 yards from the scene of the fire.
Superintendent GF Carter received timely assistance in this direction from Mr Albert Baron, of Adwick Road, who promptly commandeered a number of boys from the glassworks, and pressed them into the service. These boys ran to the fire station, providing themselves each with a link of hoses, and marched up in more or less regular formation, singing gaily, “Keep the home fires burning.” They gave an irresistible touch of humour in the proceedings, but they were nevertheless extremely useful.
Thus when the firemen arrived, the section which had been attacked was well alight, and flame was spouting through the roof. It was obvious that this portion of the building was doomed, and the brigade concentrated upon an effort to save the larger and more important and valuable section, the billiard and concert hall. They were completely successful in this.
The rest of the other wing blazed fiercely, notwithstanding that it was protected with rubroid. It was a timber roof and must have ignited very quickly. The other wing was probably saved by the activity of the Fire Brigade, and by the concrete division which exists between the two roofs. The brigade had a hot and gruelling task, but they stuck to it manfully.
They quickly surmounted a difficulty arising from the electrical supply, which was cut off by one of their number, an electrician. Superintendent Carter directed operation from the roof, and Sgt Watson also took up his station there. The Fire Brigade were very materially helped by the police and a number of soldiers who had been attracted to the conflagration. They got the flames under control between 7 and 8 o’clock, but not until the entire contents of the smaller wing had been gutted.
The brigade withdrew at noon. The premises destroyed included the bar, the secretary’s room, the committee room, smoke room, and games room, and the corridor dividing them. This portion of the building was left a blackened shell. The building is strong and new, having been erected only four years ago, when the club removed from cottage premises in Albert Road.
The cause of the outbreak has not yet been ascertained. When the members, the steward and the secretary, Mr A.L.Falding, left on Thursday night, everything was apparently in order. The steward and the secretary were amongst the 1st to be aroused, and they rendered what assistance they could give to the work of saving the building. The club is lighted by electricity and heated by hot water. The fire apparently originated on that side of the corridor occupied by the bar and the secretary’s room.
The damages estimated at roughly £1000. The original cost of the building was £2000. It has been found possible to continue the business, of the club pending the restoration of the building, in the billiard and concert hall.
The club has about 200 members, and 70 more are serving with the colours.