EXTENSIVE FIRE AT STEPNEY FAIR. Yesterday afternoon, soon after one o’clock, a fire broke out in the rope and twine factory of Mr. William Marnes, in Fairfield-place, Stepney, and adjoining the large field behind the Prince of Wales Tavern, in which number of booths, swings, and merry-go-rounds, forming part of Stepney Fair, is held. Mr. Marnes’s factory is separated by a dwarf fence, and is partially under the same roofs and sheds as the adjoining rope-ground of Mr. H. T. Gray, on the east. The field where the fair is held adjoins it on the west, and two drinking and dancing booths, each about 80 feet in length, and 30 feet in width, belonging to Mr. John Gerhold, of the Prince of Orange, in Fieldgate-street, Whitechapel, and Mr. Waller, of the King’s Head, appeared in imminent danger of being destroyed, the backs of them being close upon Mr. Marnes’s sheds, and no time was lost in commencing their removal; but the flames extended with such fearful rapidity, in a direction from south to north, that the booths were torn down. Several swings were at the same time removed. There were as many as 20,000 persons in the fair, and an indescribable scene of confusion took place. The greater portion of the shows and booths were at once closed ; the wreck of the King’s Head and Prince of Orange booths, with the seats, tables, wines, liquors, and barrels of beer, were strewn about in all directions, and the clowns, harlequins, pantaloons, and others, in their grotesque costumes, who had just been amusing the people with their drolleries, and the more serious characters of the penny theatres, changed their occupations in an instant, and lent their assistance to save property, and subdue the fire. In a few minutes an enormous quantity of hemp, flax, tar, ropes, mats, and other combustible materials, were on fire, which extended from shed to shed, consuming everything as it progressed. The workmen and show people endeavoured to arrest the progress of the Hames, but in vain. The wind was blowing rather fresh from the south, and there appeared no chance of saving any portion of the buildings. The fire length extended to Mr. Marnes’s dwelling-house and shop, about feet from the end of the factory, where it first commenced. Fortunately the greater portion of the stock, consisting of rope, twine, mats, and hemp, had been removed, together with a large portion of the furniture, but the interior of the house was gutted. It was not till the two factories of Mr. Marnes and Mr. Gray, and the dwelling-house, presented one immense mass of fire that the engines arrived. At three o’clock the efforts of the firemen had so far got the fire under to prevent any danger of its further extension, and soon afterwards they began to cool the ruins of the sheds and workshops, which were at that time blazing like a furnace. The destruction of the two factories is complete. From two o’clock till four, the timbers which supported the warehouses and other erections were burnt through, the roofs were continually falling in. At five o’clock the fire was completely got under, and the business of the fair, which had been suspended by this untoward event, recommenced. The loss sustained by Mr. Marnes, a most industrious man, is estimated at £3,000, and he is not insured for any portion thereof. Mr. Gray is loser to about half that amount. Mr. Gerhold, Mr. Waller, Mr. Butler, Mr. Moore, and others, have also sustained great losses. In the evening the fair was densely crowded, and the ruins were the most attractive spot in it.

Does anyone know how I can find the names of those in the first 2 photographs please?

I’m convinced one of them is the relative I’ve been looking for for years now.

I just need their names to know for sure.

I’ve emailed Bishopsgate Institute but covid-19 may affect a response or ability to check in the file on site.

Thanks in advance.