18 November 1836 - transcript of
West Briton newspaper includes:
Fire at Clowance Park - The following is a more particular account of this disastrous event than the shortness of the time allowed us to lay before our readers last week. About half-past five o'clock in the morning of Thursday the 10th inst, an alarming, and, in the event, destructive fire, broke out in the mansion of Clowance, the seat of Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart. It was first discovered by a female servant, who on awaking found her room full of smoke, and on looking out of the window perceived fire issuing from the one below. She instantly alarmed Mr. Symons, the house-steward; but such was the rapidity of the progress of the flames, that all attempts to extinguish them were in vain. It was even found impossible to enter the servant's room for the purpose of saving their clothes; and an old man servant, who slept in the adjoining room, was compelled to escape by jumping from the window, almost in a state of nudity. From the hour at which the fire broke out, a great number of mechanics and miners were going to their work, and the flames soon attracted a large concourse of persons to the spot. The entire destruction of the building appearing to be inevitable, no time was lost in removing the furniture, valuable pictures and books from the house, and nothing could exceed the praiseworthy exertions of the assembled multitude. A large party of men were on the roof and with immense labour, and at the imminent risk of their lives, succeeded in effecting a division between the burning wings, and the principal front of the house, by which means the progress of the flames in that direction was in a great measure stayed. On the intelligence of the fire reaching Helston, two powerful engines, the Norwich Union and the Borough Engine, were instantly dispatched with post-horses, and a strong party of firemen, and being brought into play with an abundant supply of water, the fire was happily prevented from extending beyond the back wings, the whole of which are entirely destroyed. Twenty special constables were sworn in, who, together with a detachment of the Duke of Cornwall's yeomanry, under the command of Cornet Plomer, were on guard during the night, before which time the furniture, pictures, title-deeds, books, and other property, had been deposited in the riding-house, and other places of safety. The windows and doors have been replaced in the front of the house, and workmen are busily employed in putting it into a fit state for the reception of the property, which it is hoped will be accomplished in a week or ten days.
We regret to learn that the valuable library of the Rev. Wm. Gryllis, which had been temporarily deposited at Clowance, has sustained considerable injury, although by far the greatest portion of it was saved. His furniture also was almost completely consumed. It has now been ascertained, beyond all doubt, that the fire originated from a beam over the brewery having become ignited from the flue of the kitchen chimney, which had probably become defective through age. It gives us great pleasure to be enabled to add that Sir John St. Aubyn's health has not suffered from the shock, which it was feared the sad intelligence might occasion; and that he has expressed, through Mr. Glynn Grylls, his steward, the great consolation he felt that the melancholy event had not been attended by the loss of life, and his warmest thanks to his friends and neighbours for their great exertions in saving the family mansion from utter destruction.
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