The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-07-04 00:00:00

A DORSET RECTORY BURNED DOWN.

Flames were discovered about 8 a.m. on Sunday
arising from the that 'bed roof of the residence of the
ROY. Samuel Jenkins-Johnson, rector of hielolash, and
within Little more than an It iur the entire building was
completely gutted, ant by the afternoon was a piles of
ruins. The antiquated stone building, with its pro-
jecting windows and stone mollions, its pretty porch
and 'taro= langs. has for 'truly years been termsd
" Carnesworth Parsonage," anl has been more
familiarly known by that name rather than " trielplash
Rectory." Not long silica the rev. gentleman who
was "burned out" on Sunday, purchased the residence
together with the lfelplash living, the church itself
being a good distance from the residence. As soon as
the alarm of fire was raised on Sunday morning just
before eight o'clock, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. who were
not yet below, hastily robed, and rushed from the
house. Poe fire was first seen by Mr. J. Polley, jun.,
and it was he who raised the alarm, which brought
many to assist the household in getting out the farad
tug. This was done with all speed, and, strong, though it
seem., every article of furniture WM got old, al evnn
doors, window frames, li ors, &c, removed before the
flames ran:bad the place. seers they w re respectively
situated. When lint be rig I swat portion of the
thatch rod ouly was burning, but it emended over
the whole roof so assiduous y that it was at once
seen that no assistance at hand could possibly save
the building. However, in the terror occasioned by
the outbreak, a man proceeded on horseback to
Bridport, a distance of three-and•half miles, for the
fire apAratits, but smother messenger was soon after
despatched, stating the uselessness of the attempt as
the building was thoroughly gutted, and moreover
there was little water at command. S.rgeant Hazzard
and P.C. Freak at OOP) hurried to the spit where
Constables Costard, of Bradpole, and Ellis, of Not ler-
bury, were alma ty striving in vain to save portions of
the,builling. This was POOP observed to be fruitless,
so attention was directed to certain &Wiled buildings
which were threatened with danger. A eloping roof
at the rear being covered with lead, and the fire
obtaining a firm mastery beneath, the metal was soon
observed to melt, and flow down in luight liquid
streams into the blazing fragments of timber
beneath. The lead ap,mared in each quantities that
judging from the frequent streams of metal there
must have been cows tons of it used to protect the
gsblet and projecting roofs. People from all parte of
Lb perish, ses won MI they heard of the fire rushed
quickly to the spot, and laboured most sessidnously in
various attempts SO get the fire under, but, as
previously stayed, all efforts were futile. Two green-
houses with their plants and fl were were saved from
destruction, and at night two constables were left by
P.S. 11.zz ad to guard some detached building, from
the danger which another outbreak would subj.ct them
to. The house itself, we understand was uninsured,
as was the (grainy., the latter being fortunately
rescued. The fire is easily accounted for. Only a
short time before the outbreak the servant lighted the
kitchen fire, sod some of the spiel". being cat ried op
the chimney they pitched upon the thatch, which
being ...wed* dry, at once t.ok fire.