City reshaped by fires
Publication: Daily Nation
Date: Mon, Jun 16, 1997
Page: 4A
Byline: Terry Ally
FIRES have been largely responsible for changing the landscape of Bridgetown.
In the last three decades, major fires have wiped out substantial sections of Bridgetown, costing over $75 million in losses and leading to a remake of the City.
Fires were also responsible for the revision of the building codes for the capital - as early as the 17th Century.
Saturday's fire in Independence Square and Bay Street was the third largest fire in the City this decade.
On May 24, 1990, eight businesses were destroyed on Bridge Street with losses estimated at $45 million and on September 4, 1993, nine businesses were destroyed in a Swan Street inferno with a price tag estimated at $20 million.
Following are a list of fires in the City. Unless indicated otherwise, the buildings were destroyed.
- Sunday, June 10, 1821 - Bakery and several houses in Bullhead Alley (south side of Lower Broad Street).
- Wednesday, January 25, 1826 - 166 houses.
- Monday, February 3, 1845 - eight acres in Lower Broad Street around Jubilee Gardens and Plantations building.
- Thursday, February 17, 1853 - 97 houses in Greenfields, Roebuck Street.
- Wednesday, February 14, 1860 - sparks from the chimney of a chocolate factory started a fire, a short distance away, in the lumber yard of John and George Alleyne in Palmetto Street, wiping out the surrounding area and much of the district across the Careenage where Parliament Building and Trafalgar Square now stand.
- 1946 - Plantations Limited, Broad Street.
- 1948 - Central Foundry Limited (now the Treasury Building).
- 1957 - Zephrin's Bakery, Bay Street.
- Friday, January 17, 1969 - United Motor Services, Spry Street (site of Central Bank).
- Tuesday, March 4, 1969 - J. B. Leslie and Company bond, Roebuck Street.
- Friday, November 3, 1969 - D. V. Scott and two other businesses in Whitepark.
- Wednesday, December 10, 1969 - Cave Shepherd and Louis Bayley, Broad Street.
- Monday, January 19, 1970 - Several buildings in Broad Street razed including Thani Brothers, William Fogarty (now Norman Centre) and Trader Man. Approximately $10 million in damage.
- 1974 - Barbados Hardware, Swan Street, extensively damaged.
- 1979 - Barbados Rediffusion, Cavan's Lane
- 1980 - People's Pharmacy, High Street, extensively damaged.
- Sunday, August 12, 1984 - Hill Meat and vegetable Depot, Baxters Road.
- Monday, August 13, 1984 - Caribbean Furnishing House and Pot of God Arcade, Marhill Street.
- Thursday, August 30, 1984 - Gardiner Austin Building, Broad Street (now United Insurance).
- Tuesday, October 9, 1984 - House of Fabric, Swan Street, extensively damaged.
- Friday, December 28, 1984 - Trading Post, Cavans Lane.
- Wednesday, May 10, 1989 - J. L. Redhead and Company, Roebuck Street.
- Tuesday, October 10, 1989 - Warehouse Nightclub and four other businesses in Bridge House, Cavan's Lane.
- Sunday, November 5, 1989 - Two stores upstairs Galleria Mall, Broad Street, destroyed and eight damaged by water.
- Thursday, May 24, 1990 - Eight businesses destroyed in Bridge Street; Treasury Building, N. E. Wilson and Marshall Hall, Harbour Road, damaged by flying embers and radiated heat. Approximately $45 million losses.
- Monday, January 20, 1992 - Globe City Cinema, Probyn Street.
- Wednesday, February 26, 1992 - Melwani's and Halecim Development, Marhill Street, damaged.
- Tuesday, April 21, 1992 - Wyse Shoppers Supermarket, Marhill Street, extensively damaged. Cost approximately $2.6 million.
- Wednesday, May 6, 1992 - Top floor of Barbados Agricultural Society headquarters, Beckles Road.
- Thursday, May 14, 1992 - Plastics Plus and five other businesses in Lambert's House, Jordan Lane (next to Globe City Cinema).
- Sunday, November 1, 1992 - Progressive Hardware, Suttle Street.
- Wednesday, July 21, 1993 - Teddy's Bar & Restaurant and Triple Crown Racing Services, Marhill Street.
- Thursday, August 12, 1993 - Barbados Cosmetics Products, Harbour Road, damaged.
- Saturday, September 4, 1993 - Nine businesses in Swan Street. Cost estimated at $20 million.
- Friday, December 9, 1994 - TMR, Baxter's Road. Cost approximately $5 million.
- Saturday, June 14, 1997 - Modern Living and four other businesses destroyed, the office of a sixth destroyed.