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On Tuesday morning between ten and eleven o’clock a fire broke out in a room occupied by one of the officers on the top floor of the west wing of the Royal Artillery Officers Quarters at Dover Castle. As soon as the fire was discovered vigorous efforts were made to extinguish it by those on the spot but it got ahead of them. Very soon a volume of smoke, shortly after followed by tongues of flames, were soon slowly rising up from the roof of the western wing. Greatly to the astonishment of the people of Dover who gathered in the Market Place at the top of Snargate Street and on the sea front to watch the unusual site.

Between eleven and half past the flames increased and there being a fresh breeze the conflagration threatened the whole block of buildings on the cliff front while the powder magazines in the immediate rear presented an element of peril which was minimised as much as possible by spreading damped sheets of tarpaulin over the ventilators. The streets became very lively. Messages were being sent for by flag signals to the Western Heights, while mounted and foot soldiers were hurrying across the town to the relief of the Castle against the fiery foe. A call for aid was also sent to the Dover Fire Brigade who turned out at 11-10 and having requisitioned horses from Mr. Hicks, the borough fire engine was taken to the Castle accompanied by Superintendent Sanders, Inspector Knott and as many police firemen as could be spared from duty.

When the Borough firemen arrived they found the Royal Artillery fire engine already in operation. There was a separate water supply for the Castle provided by wells, having steam-pumping engines. This is a good supply for ordinary purposes but hardly sufficient pressure to knock out a raging fire. The Royal Artillery was attacking the fire from the rear of the Officers Mess. The borough fire engine was fixed on the west side, the suction pipe being placed in a canvas bag which was supplied from a hydrant and a line of soldiers with buckets supplemented that supply by water procured from a hydrant near Colten Tower.

There were also two other fire engines on the plateau near the fire brought from the Western Heights but there were no available hydrants to feed them. When the Dover Fire Brigade arrived they found that the top floor of the West Wing of the Officers Quarters was all alight. The Dover engine owing to the scarcity of water could only make use of one delivery hose, which was carried through the second floor window to the centre of the ignited building’s. It will seem therefore that the firemen’s work was done under great difficulties. They went at the task with vigour and good judgement and after about a hours steady work the last tongues of flames was subdued and it only remained to prevent the smouldering embers from breaking out afresh.

It is difficult to estimate the damage because the building is one that was constructed on an expensive scale. Roughly speaking we should say no less than £2,000 will be required to make good the havoc wrought. The principal damage was confined to five rooms on the top floor of the West Wing used as Officers Quarters. The roof of those rooms was entirely destroyed and the rooms on the second floor were much damaged by water. Much of the contents of the rooms suffered damage from heat, smoke and water. Nothing was insured. It should be stated however that the greater part of the furniture, books, papers &c. were quickly removed by the Artillery men before the fire touched them and the salvage was stacked up on the green, protected by armed guards.

The Dover Fire Brigade, which contained some very competent firemen, did excellent service and the borough fire escape, which was brought up by the soldiers, was of much service in reaching the windows. No definite trace of the origin of the fire has been traced although it is stated in the town that there was a chimney on fire there on Monday. The heat must have caught the wood that fanned by the strong wind in the night gradually secured a hold in the roof before it was discovered. We are not able to say if that statement is correct but give it as we heard it.

It is hardly necessary to say that the wildest statements appeared in the London evening paper as to the fire statements being made that the Castle was altogether in flames and doomed to destruction. Local correspondents are blamed for the absurd exaggerations, but in our opinion the real sinners are the subscribers who regard a bouncing sensational lie with much greater favour than they do a plain statement of facts. (1897)