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From an email received 5 December 2022.
The "Railway Tavern," Queenborough, burnt to the ground on the evening of Thursday 25th
August 1870, when it was in the occupation of William Emptage.
(Sheerness Times Guardian, 27th August 1870).
As you know, he had moved to the "Hope" at 62 High Street by 1871.
William had been the licensee of the "Railway Tavern" at the time of
the 1861 census, but the pub had probably only existed a few months
as Queenborough railway station had only been opened by the
Sittingbourne & Sheerness Railway Company on 19th July 1860...
unless it had operated under a different name previously!
Peter Moynihan.
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Sheerness Times Guardian, 27th August 1870.
Fire at Queenborough.
The inhabitants of the ancient borough of Queenborough were thrown
into a state of the wildest excitement on Thursday evening, by a cry
of "Fire" resounding from one end of the town to the other. The
scene of the conflagration proved to be the "Railway Tavern," nearly
opposite the National School, in the occupation of Mr. William
Emptage, and thither a large number of persons directed their steps.
It appears that the fire broke out about a quarter-past ten in the
upstairs front room, and so quickly did the flames spread that the
house was soon completely burned to the ground. Although there were
a number of men early on the spot they seemed to have no idea of
doing anything to prevent the spread of the conflagration, and had
it not been for the strenuous exertions of a few gentlemen, who
fetched water from the castle moat, the two next houses would
certainly have become a prey to the devouring element, being built
of wood. The police did not arrive until past eleven o’clock, but
they at onee went to work to stay the conflagration. An engine from
the dockyard and a party of sailors from the Naval Barracks also
arrived about 1.30 at the scene of the disaster, and by their help
the fire was soon put out. The furniture was fully insured in the
County Fire Office. The origin of the fire is unknown. |
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