These have been transcribed from the Newspaper reports of the time: –
Stirling Observer 16th May 1911
FIRE AT BRIDGEHAUGH, STIRLING.
A BIG BLAZE
DAMAGE £2,600
On Friday evening Bridgehaugh, Stirling was the scene of a most destructive fire, the outbreak being remarkable for the fierceness of the blaze and the thoroughness with which the premises involved were gutted. The fire occurred in the works of Messrs James Leslie and Co. Wholesale Confectioners a four storey building belonging to the ex Provost Archibald Forrest which was formerly occupied by the firm of Messrs A. and W. Forrest’s Cabinet works. A number of dwelling houses immediately adjoined adjacent to the old bridge and on the other side were the premises of Mr J. F. Thurman Flock Manufacturer.
About 7:30pm a woman passing the premises observed smoke issuing from the windows and, giving the alarm, the fire brigade was at once called out. The contents of the building were however of the most inflammable description and the flames fed with the large quantity of sugar in store, packing boxes, straw etc., spread with great rapidity so much so that when the brigade arrived it was considered impossible to save the structure and attention was directed to preventing the fire spreading to the dwelling houses and to the premises of Mr Thurman. Meanwhile the householders had all their effects removed from the dwelling houses though it afterwards turned out this was not necessary, the Brigade being successful in confining the outbreak to the building in which it originated, and the only damage done to the adjoining premises was by water. Shortly after 8:00pm the roof of Messrs Leslie’s building fell in and the flames, shooting high in the air, presented a fine though rather alarming spectacle.
A large crowd drawn from all parts of the town collected in the vicinity and assistance was rendered by a detachment of military from the castle in keeping back the people while a number of the Burgh Police under Chief Constable Nicol also lent their aid to the County Authorities within whose jurisdiction that property is situated.
The premises, as already indicated, were completely destroyed. Messrs Leslie estimate their damage to stock and machinery at £2000 which is covered by insurance to the extent of £1700 the loss on the building is estimated at £600 and to this must be added the damage done to the furnishings belonging to the tenants of the houses who suffered rather severely.
Stirling Journal 16th May 1911
Confectionery works destroyed
Stirling has enjoyed complete immunity from fires of a serious nature for a considerable time, but last Friday night there was a serious outbreak at the old bridge which resulted in the total destruction of Leslie’s Confectionery works. The building was an old substantial structure belonging to ex Provost Archibald Forrest and it was used for long as a cabinetmaking factory establishment in which female labour was mostly employed.
The building which was four stories in height had a frontage of about 100 feet and was from 30 to 40 feet wide with a large annex at the back. The outbreak of the fire was first observed about 7:30pm. It occurred near the East End of the premises and was supposed to be in the second story. Word was sent for the fire brigade which turned out promptly enough but a good deal of time a lapsed before the fire could be attacked. The pressure of the water from the hydrants in front of the building was defective. The steam engine was on the ground and when eventually it was set in motion it threw a great volume of water from the Forth onto the burning mass at the back.
It was quite evident from a very early stage that the whole premises were doomed and the efforts of the firemen were directed towards preventing the spread of the flames to the dwelling houses on the West and to Mr Thurman’s premises on the east. Fortunately this object was achieved. For some time however the situation was rather alarming. The fire burned with great fierceness and at times the flames shot up into the air more than 100 feet. There was a large stock on hand of sugar and sweets both made and in the process of being made in connection with the summer trade. This material gave off an immense volume of black smoke which added to the grandeur of the scene. The roof soon fell in and the front wall was seen to be off the Plumb, the bias being towards the inside, but a few minutes past 9:00pm it fell with a crash which shook the ground for a considerable distance around. Had it fallen out instead of to the inside many persons might have been injured because the street was crowded at the time. The fire burned itself out.
A lot of valuable machinery was destroyed. The damage is estimated at over £2000 and it is understood that this is covered by insurance. Immediately after the fire was discovered the tenants of the dwelling houses to the West of the burning building set about the removal which was soon accomplished, the articles being carried across the street and stowed in Mr Esslemont’s premises opposite. Most of the Fire evicted tenants also found shelter at Bridgehaugh during the night.
The fire attracted great attention and thousands of people assembled from all parts of the district to witness it. The premises were outside the burgh boundary. The maintenance of order naturally devolved on the County Police. Inspector McKerracher and a number of men were early on the ground. Chief Constable Nicol, of the Burgh Police, was also present and he sent a number of men to assist the County Constabulary in the duties which they had in hand. Aa contingent of military from the castle rendered similar service.
Presumed from the Stirling Observer later: –
THEFT OF A WATCH
A sequel to the recent blaze at Bridgehaugh came up at Stirling Sheriff Court today (Tuesday) when a lad named Richard Winters residing at 31 St Mary’s Wynd was charged with the theft of a watch from a dwelling house at Bridgehaugh. The theft took place during the course of the fire when accused assisted in removing the furniture from one of the houses. Noticing the watch, he picked it up and put it in his pocket. Winters pleaded guilty and stated that he sold the watch and spent the proceeds on liquor. Sentence for 14 days imprisonment was passed.
AND FROM THE MINUTES OF STIRLING BURGH COUNCIL : –
1181 Fire at Bridgehaugh. – There was read a letter, dated 18th May, from Mr A.R. Brown, Bridgehaugh, asking for compensation for damage to garden in connection with the recent fire at Bridgehaugh.
As this occurred outside the Burgh, the Committee could not see their way to make any offer.
Archibald Ritchie Brown was a “Mole Destroyer” who built what we know today as Orchard Cottage. He did not, however build the Cottage until at least a year after the fire, having bought the site from the Rubber Works on 1st October 1912. There is a record of him in the Census of 1911 living in “Bridgehaugh” as a lodger of John C. Thurman, presumably the owner of the Forth Mill. At that time there were only two dwellings in the area with gardens – Bridge Cottage and Forthvale Cottage. This seems to point the finger at Archibald Ritchie Brown as being, at the very least, an opportunist!
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