Surrey Mirror – Saturday 17 November 1883

Destructive Fire at Mitcham.

—Up to a late hour on Wednesday night the Croydon, Wimbledon, Sutton, Carshalton, and Tooting Fire Brigade were engaged at a destructive fire that had broken out at a varnish factory, situated at Westfield, Bath-road, Mitcham, and in the occupation of Messrs. James Crease and Sons, 29, Cow-cross, Smithfield, E.C. The call was conveyed through the police to the Croydon Corporation Brigade at 4.27 p.m., and when Superintendent Tennuei arrived with a steamer, fully manned, he found the building comprising a block, measuring 50ft. by 40ft., in flames, it was at once seen that there was no hope of of saving the boiler, running-off, finishing, and store rooms, and although engines arrived from the above mentioned stations in quick succession, the factory was destroyed with its contents. The fire was caused by the upsetting of a turpentine pot. Henry Fillsars, aged 39 years, the foreman of the works, and William Skelton, a workman, were badly burned about the face and hands, and removed to their homes. The damage is estimated at between £1500 and £2000. The building is insured.

Notes
1. Henry Fellows, not Fillsars, is listed in 1881 census living in Bath Road as an ‘Oil and Colourman’