Hampshire Chronicle 14 May 1792

Some people being at work  in Mr Moody's shop, smith and edge-tool maker, a large flake of red hot iron  flew out of the shop window, and, falling on some dry litter near a  cucumber-bed, set it instantly on fire.

This communicating to an adjacent  mill-house, covered with thatch, where a horse was at work, the whole, in a  few minutes, was in flames. Every exertion was used to extricate the horse,  but in vain. The poor animal, irritated by flakes of fire falling continually  upon him, and frightened by the flames, was in so dreadful a state of  agitation, that he flew round with such impetuosity, that it was impossible  to release him; and he was burnt to ashes.

These premises being situate at the northern extremity of the parish, the  wind high, and blowing in a direct line with the street, carried the thatch  like a storm of fire, swifter than a man could run, from one house to  another, till the whole village was in flames!

The sight, from the adjoining hills, presented to the imagination an awful  emblem of the last and final day! Volumes of liquid fire occupied the  atmosphere, which, taking different directions, was whirled by the wind to a  prodigious height; till the flame and combustible material roaring and  bursting with a most tremendous noise, fell again in showers of fiery hail,  until everything covered with thatch was entirely consumed! At once instant  20-7 houses, 13 barns, 10 stables, several granaries, and 4 ricks of capital  wheat, were in flames. The thatch upon several extensive garden-walls was  completely burnt up; every privy, though detached, and at the upper end of  the gardens, was reduced to ashes; with a great number of waggons, carts,  thrashed and unthrashed corn, 20-8 pigs, a great quantity of poultry, and all
the furniture and entire property of great numbers of poor people, who are  reduced to the most deplorable circumstances, and to the utmost penury.

Happening in the middle of the day, only 1 life was lost; and that through  obstinacy. Farmer Friend, at the advanced sixty, perished in going upstairs  after his money. He was supposed to have about 400 guineas in a coffer; which  he said he was determined to save or perish in the attempt, which was  unhappily his fate; for he had no sooner reached the top of the stairs than  the roof fell in upon him; and so completely was he burned to ashes, that no  traces whatever can be found of his body, except one small piece of the back  bone.

Two engines, one from this city, and another from Whitchurch, came to the  assistance of the sufferers; but not in time to prevent the ravages of the  fire, which completed its devastations in little more than an hour. About  eight or ten houses remain uninjured, among which are the parsonage-house,  the farm house occupied by Mr Courtney, and some cottages which stood out of  the line of the wind. The principal loss is sustained by Mr Courtney, and we  are sorry to hear that a very small part of the property destroyed was  insured.

The Dean and Chapter of Winchester have generously sent £20 and a quantity of  bread, for the present relief of the unfortunate sufferers, who were obliged  to take shelter in the church. Joshua Iremonger, Esq. of Wherwell, and  several other gentlemen, have also humanely extended their assistance towards  their immediate necessities.