PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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THE FIRE AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, 1863 On the evening of Monday January 5th 1863 the Theatre Royal in Plymouth was crowded for the pantomime "Robinson Crusoe". After the audience had left the building there was a smell of fire and the lessee, Mr J R Newcombe, made a tour of the premises, found nothing untoward and left. Still feeling unhappy, no doubt with the memory of the fire in December 1862 on his mind, he returned to the building and went through the entire theatre except for the property room, which his 'confidential servant', Mr Purvis, assured him was all right. He left the building again and went to bed at his home in Balmoral Terrace, Citadel Road. However so unsettled was he that at around midnight he decided to check once again. Upon opening his front door a man immediately accosted him to tell him that his theatre was on fire. The fire had been discovered by Mr Page of Messrs Page, Keen and Page, the silversmniths, who happened to be at the Royal Hotel. The first fire engine on the scene was from the West of England Insurance Company, under Mr Marshall. The local press were later highly critical of the slowness with which theother units attended. A full list is given here. A great deal of damage was done. The grand lobby and staircase leading to the Assembly Room were destroyed, as was the billiard room, tea room, the card room, ladies' dressing rooms and one end of the ball room. Only a part of the Assembly Room survived. Within the Theatre part of the block, the gallery was badly burned. The Royal Hotel alongside did not escape the damage. It was calculated that about 250 naval men and 1,700 military, Royal Artillery and Royal Marines assisted the fire brigades. Mr Newcombe was not insured at that time due to a problem transferring his insurance policy. A small fire broke out again at around 11.30pm on the Tuesday night but Police Superintendent Freeman and Sergeant Lindon were on the spot and called the South Devon Railway's fire engine. RETURN TO Fires at the Theatre Royal
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