BROADCLYST - THE FIRE OF 1870 - ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS ACCOUNT

"The disaster which has befallen the Devonshire village of Broadclist**, four or five miles north of Exeter, by a conflagration making dreadful havoc among its straw-thatched cottages, excites the compassion of those who know the place.

The Right Hon. Robert Besley, Lord Mayor of London, who is a native of Exeter, and who has had his local affections refreshed by the late address of congratulations from Exonians and Devonians in this metropolis, will act as treasurer to a fund subscribed for the relief of the sufferers. Amongst its promoters are Messrs. W. F. Rock of Walbrook,; Mr. S. Cousens, R.A; Mr. E. B. Stephens, A.R.A and others.

Our engraving of the the ruins, from one or two photographs taken by Mr. J. F. Long of High Street, Exeter, shows the scene of desolation now presented at Broadclist.

Of seventy-eight houses forming this little village, sixty were entirely destroyed; 250 persons were rendered homeless; and the loss of clothing and furniture, and of the stock of their little shops, cannot easily be replaced without help from friends out of the district. Their immediate wants were provided for by their kind-hearted neighbour, Sir Thomas Acland, Bart. of Killerton, formerly MP for North Devon and father of Mr. T. D. Acland MP , who now represents the same division of the county."

"Ruins of Broadclyst, a village near Exeter, after the fire"

** Spelling in use at that time.