Extensive fire in the Radnor Forest

“A person by accident set fire to Radnor Forest owing to the dryness of the season it burnt for 30 miles in circumference destroying thousands of sheep and many cottages. The Earl of Oxford and Mr Lewis [Harpton Court] were the main sufferers”. [British History by John Wade].

There was also a long notice about this in the Annual Register of 1800 under the headlines Ludlow Aug 19th in which it was stated that the fire was caused by the owner of a sheep walk setting fire to the heath before digging for ‘pitmar’ – coal or peat possibly pit or peat mawn, a term that is found on the Forest regarding Common rights ?

The fire seems to have spread to a great extent when we read that “ on the side of the vale adjoining Sir W Wynne’s estate it was supposed to extend from 8 to 10 miles on the opposite side to 4 miles” The report adds that the fire was seen from Ludlow riding in columns to an immense height, but it was principally confined to the hills, the property of the Earl of Oxford, Mr Lewis and Mr Lewin.

After raging for 5 weeks it was at length extinguished by a heavy fall of rain.

1800 was a year in which there was a severe drought which caused many fires everywhere

Written by Elizabeth Newman.