The residents in this part of Dover were thrown into a state of alarm on Monday in consequence of a fire breaking out in the locality. Immediately on its discovery intelligence was communicated to Captain G. T. Parks who with his staff and apparatus promptly repaired to the scene of the conflagration in an outbuilding in the rear of and connected with the Five Alls occupied by George Hudson fly proprietor &c. The flames were bursting through the roof on the arrival of Mr. Parks. A hasty glance sufficed to show that there was not a moment to be lost but only in confining the devouring element to the premises in which the fire originated but in preserving from destruction the heterogeneous mass of buildings in immediate proximity thereto.

A double branch service was instantly attached to the nearest hydrants and the influence of well-directed and ample supply of water in retarding the progress of the flames was soon observed. In a moment of apprehension parties occupying adjacent property had commenced removing their goods. Such was the energy displayed in extinguishing the fire. So effective the means available in connection with the Dover Water Works that half an hour sufficed for Mr. Parks to announce that the fire was controlled and its spread beyond the walls of the doomed edifice in which it broke out prevented. The alarm had been given about six o’clock and before seven o’clock the order to turn off the water preparatory to an examination of the interior of the premises was issued. The majority of those who had congregated to witness the catastrophe were at that hour retiring from the spot. The subsequent proceedings principally had reference to a pre-cautionary removal of the smouldering wreck of the conflagration but no fresh outbreak resulted.

As we have already stated the buildings in which the fire originated and to which happily it was confined was in the rear of the “Five Alls” Market Street. It was of two storey’s the ground floor forming the wash-house or scullery of the “Five Alls” as well as a portion of  “The Tap” and the second floor (formally dormitories for travellers) being used as a straw and fodder loft. On Saturday a ton of straw was stored away there and on Monday a ton of sanfoin was added to the contents of the loft.

The cause of the fire was correctly conjectured on Monday evening but it was not satisfactorily ascertained until Tuesday morning. It appears that in the washhouse of the ground floor there was a copper, which was used on Monday. The flue of the copper passed into the chimney of the premises but at its junction with the chimney there was a fracture sufficiently large to admit lighted soot or other ignited substance falling immediately on some rafters below. The state of the rafters showed that such an occurrence must have taken place and hence the conflagration. The premises the property of the Messrs Coleman &c. brewers and are insured in the Globe. (May 1858)