Swan Brewery following the devastating fire at West Kent cycle works 1910 - further account

…The greatest danger emanated from the Town side of the building, adjoining the old brewery malt kiln, and it was towards this spot that the firemen directed their unrelenting zeal. Working from three hydrants on the high pressure main, the brigade played on the fire with five branches. Fortunately an ample supply of water at tremendous pressure was available; but for a time the fire seemed to defy all efforts. While attention was being directed to the Town end, the flames at the opposite end broke out with added vigour, and threatened the demolition of Stakes Cottages. This fact alarmed the occupants, and in a short space of time the cottages were emptied of household goods, and these were stacked by the roadside. The flames had reached the gable end of the nearest cottages; but well-directed jets of water drove back the menacing blaze.

United efforts were again directed to saving the malt kiln, for it was realised that once this old building had become involved, the fire would have encompassed Mr Watkins’ residence and neighbouring houses, with the inevitable result that they would have been burnt out. But to save the kiln from the ravages of the flames was an exceedingly difficult task, and in the hands of less determined and capable men would never have been accomplished. They spared no effort, and dogged perseverance and pertinacity gradually checked the advance of the fire in this direction.

One branch was taken through Mr Watkins’ house, and on to the roof of the malthouse; another through the malthouse itself and out to the back; and a third was taken through the gateway between the burning building and the malthouse. Thus from the top, back and threatened side of the malthouse, huge jets of water were continually poured into the flames. The heat was unbearable, but the intrepid firemen were heedless to this fact, and stuck to their duty unflinchingly, until at length the fire was subdued. But this was not until between five and six a.m., after five or six hours of the most trying and dangerous duty conceivable.

There was a difficulty in getting through by telephone to the Combe Bank Brigade, and Mr A.E. Newton, procuring a cycle, dashed off to summon them.

The Combe Bank Fire Brigade arrived abut three-quarters of an hour from the call, and after a further thirty minutes the Sevenoaks Brigade arrived. By that time, however, the services of neither were really required, as the men of the Westerham Brigade had, by superhuman efforts, got the fire well in-hand. Sevenoaks did not unship their tackle, but returned almost immediately, and the Combe Bank men returned after having rendered valuable assistance for a couple of hours.

During the progress of the fire huge numbers of people collected, but the crowd was well handled by the police – P.S. Hugget and P.C.’s Brown and Rook – who rendered the firemen yeoman service in keeping the people well back and so leaving the fire fighters plenty of space to carry on their work without being hampered by the crowd.