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  • Mine was Free Trade Wharf, a 1980s apartment block next to Free Trade Wharf, older converted warehouses built by East India Company, the rejected tag :)

    A bold claim perhaps, but I think this is where a major fire started in 1794, destroying the surrounding area then known as Ratcliffe. It is said to be the largest fire London experienced between the Great Fire of London and the Blitz.

    I think several things point to the tag's location. It started at a barge builder at 'Cock Hill' - [note Cockhill wharf on the map]. It then ignited a barge carrying Saltpetre (potassium nitrate) which then set the Saltpetre warehouse itself on fire. The Free Trade Wharf built in the early 1800's is referred to here as being formerly a Saltpetre warehouse. (Upside down:)

    It then spread north and eastwards along what is now the Highway (then the Ratcliffe Highway, or Broad Street on the map) until it reached the west part of Narrow Street.

    The rescue effort was also worth a read.

    http://www.wickedwilliam.com/ratcliff-great-fire-london/

    https://isleofdogslife.wordpress.com/tag/fire-of-ratcliffe-1794/


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  • i liked this historic read!
    you think the devils number 666 comes from the great London fire of 1666 ? (probably super documented on google but i am lazy to search)

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