Kentish Gazette, 23 July 1844.

Fire at Greenwich.

Thursday morning, a fire broke out at the "Prince of Wales" beer-shop, Lewisham-road, Greenwich. Mr. Purkiss, the landlord, his wife and sister, with an infant, made their escape by a ladder. The potman was saved by dropping from the window over the doorway into the street, and Mrs. Purkiss’s sister was scorched in effecting her escape. The fire continued raging until nearly two o’clock, by which time the house and its contents were nearly consumed. Not a vestige of property has been saved. Mr. Purkiss’s cash-box was destroyed, containing sundry Bank of England notes, gold, and silver, together with the lease of his house; he is, fortunately insured in the Phoenix office to the full amount of his losses.