Fire, Chase Side, 18th July 1911

A crowd of people in the street in front of some shops. Some unknown event seems to have attracted them. The left-hand shop is derelict and half of its roof is missing. Shop signs include "W. J. WILLIS / Established 1875", "SPRATTS PATENT", "Drapery THE BEE HIVE. Stores", "126 DECORATORS & UPHOLSTERERS 126", "LAING".

Comment by P Cracknell, 2014-04-01: The house shown on the left is 'Rosetta' (122 Chase Side) which is now converted to shops (Hanging around, Decorative supplies and The Glass House). This and the adjacent shop (now Highlights hair salon) were subsequently repaired. The righthand shop (126 Chase Side) was later demolished to accommodate the forecourt of the Jet petrol station. The 'Bee Hive' shop is now a residential property. This photo was taken from the western end of Halifax Road.

Comment by Daren Gordelier, 2014-05-05: The fire took place on 18th July 1911 and started at 122 Chase Side, it spread to 122a occupied Mr Willis (a corn chandler) at the rear there were two brick / timber store sheds 180ft long which were destroyed. The other properties affected in the photo were 124 Mrs Bullock (linen draper) and 126 Mr Lang a decorator, the contents of both being damaged by water, as was 23 Holtwhites Avenue owned by Mr A Gibson. Fire brigades from Enfield, Ponders End, Southgate, Tottenham and Edmonton attended. Such was the scale of the fire that it drew visitors and the newspaper ran out of copies.