Fire

At Owd Tats

Fire at Tattersall Wilkinsons, Extwistle. 5th December 1905.
According to the newspaper report of the conflagration 'Old Tatty' had been lecturing at the Congregationalist School in Nelson. From there he went to Burnley, by tram, to visit a friend, a John Bradshaw who lived in Yorkshire Street. When 'Old Tatty' got home he noticed smoke pouring out of his house, which when he got to the building, he soon discovered had been ransacked.
Some lads had gained entry through a window and a sofa was smouldering. 'Old Tatty' went in and hastily put out the fire....or so he thought! The old man went to bed, but was awakened by noises. Taking a revolver with him he went downstairs and discovered the house was ablaze. He could save nothing and was lucky to escape with his life. Altogether he lost some six hundred books, many lantern slides, a telescope and probably many irreplaceable documents relating to the history of Briercliffe and the surrounding area.