Owner Comments:
I never thought my Soho Mint obsession would take me down the path of buying a piece struck in gold, but here we are. As noted in the write-up for the previous medal, these were mainly issued in gold. Those who refer to Token Book 3 for additional information should note that the author mistakenly batched this piece in a single group with other medals issued before and after the ones struck by dies engraved at the Soho Mint. Off-metal strikes of this medal, particularly those in copper are rarely encountered. The silver strikings are rare, but more frequently encountered than their copper counterparts. As you can see, these medals were designed so that the recipient’s name could be engraved on the reverse, but multiple unengraved examples indicate that this was not always done.
Historical Context:
The entry immediately before the current medal briefly introduces the history of the Westminster Fire Office. I encourage readers to stop here and review that introduction before reading the dramatic story found below. Despite my best efforts, I could find no confirmed mention of the named recipient in contemporary publications. It also appears that the Westminster Fire Office did not regularly publish the names of the newly elected directors. Nonetheless, I did stumble upon a series of interesting and dramatic reports about a massive fire that was extinguished in part due to the efforts of the Westminster Fire Office. I have decided to tell that story here to further convince readers of the critical role companies such as the Westminster Fire Office played in securing the safety of so many densely populated communities.
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ORACLE AND THE DAILY ADVERTISER
Saturday, December 3 1803
DREADFUL FIRE
IN FRITH-STREET, SOHO!
Yesterday morning, a little after two o’clock, a most alarming fire broke out in the workshop of Messrs Jackson and Moser, Furnishing Iron-mongers, In the rear of Mr. Moser, sen’s house, No. 47, Frith-street. It was very providentially discovered and sufficient time to alarm those who were in bed, and save a considerable part of the effects, by Michael Davis, a Welch boy, an apprentice of Mr. Moser, who slept in the shop, and was awoke by the sensation of being suffocated by the smoke. He was so confounded for some time that he was quite unable to speak, or tell what was the matter, when he went to alarm the family: they were, however, all soon up.
At this time, about half past two, the shop and warehouse began to blaze very rapidly, particularly when the doors were opened, and the air admitted. The alarm was instantly given in the streets the rattles were sprung, the watchmen assembled, and all the neighbors rose to render their assistance; some went for engines, others to acquaint the different Volunteers who were to guard at their respective armouries. The flames began to ascend, and in a very short time communicated to the adjoining houses. All was bustle, noise, and confusion - drums beating, engines running; men, women, and children, half naked in the streets, which were strewed with all kinds of furniture.
The Royal Westminster Volunteers were almost instantaneously on the spot. They were soon joined by the Saint James's Volunteers, who formed themselves into small parties, and took their stations at the end of the different streets, to prevent depredation, and hinder any idle spectators from passing; whilst others, with laudable alacrity, rendered every assistance in their power, by removing the furniture into the street, and the opposite houses, which were left open for their reception.
At about three o’clock the site that presented itself was truly awful no less than ten houses in that street being all at once in flames, without the smallest possible chance to save one; and the flames spreading still farther, and threatening destruction to Dean-street which runs in a parallel line with Frith-street, in rear of the flames. At this time the streets were crowded with the engines belonging to the different Fire Offices, besides several private engines, the whole of which were rendered useless for nearly three hours and a half before there could be any water procured, excepting what was carried in buckets from the opposite houses. The loss sustained as yet incalculable. The following are the houses which suffered most, viz: -
Mr. Moser, senior, No. 47, in ruins.
Mr. Moser, junior, No. 46, ditto.
Mr. Lucas, Master Taylor, No. 45, ditto.
Jameson and Willis, Coachmaker, No. 44, ditto.
Hemmings and Westwood, Furniture Warehouse, No. 43, ditto.
The Academy, No. 42., ditto.
Mr. Hogarth, Attorney, No. 40, ditto.
Mr. John Hort, No. 40, ditto.
----, ----, No. 40, ditto.
This was the extent of the Fire on that side of Mr. Moser's house, which reached nearly as far as Queen-street; On the other side towards Compton-street, Robert Russell's, Esq. being No. 48, was burnt to the ground, making nine excellent houses in Frith-street, while the back part of every house which was opposite in Dean-street suffered considerably, something entirely burnt down, others gutted; several houses escaped with a trifling injury. What seemed remarkably strange was, that the House of Mr. Reid, being the corner of Frith-street, and Compton street, escaped uninjured, though there were nine houses burnt in Frith-street, and the two adjoining houses in Compton-street, one being a poatoe warehouse, and the other a picture frame maker’s, beside the back premises belonging to Mr. Reid and Mr. Ram, the upholsterer, also Mr. Bond’s back premises, and several others in the rear, which, owing to the confusion, and no liberty being allowed to pass the streets yesterday, it was impossible to learn.
About four o’clock in the morning, the spectacle became truly tremendous. No water could be procured. Detachments from the following Volunteer Corps arrived and rendered their assistance - the St. Giles’s, and St. Georges Bloomsbury; the St. Mary-le-Bone, And the loyal Britons. They formed additional guards at every past for vents depredation, whilst others were busily employed in piling up furniture in the streets. There were beds, tables, chairs, drawers, &c. piled promiscuously, and, from the windows, they were throwing them into the street.
At this time the whole side of that beautiful St. from the corner of Queen-street, was in a conflagration; at six o’clock the entire of the inside was burnt out, and then the walls began to fall in. At day light the fire was extinguished, and the picture was truly deplorable - Furniture of all kinds promiscuously heaped together, whilst the streets were filled with different other articles snatched from destruction - the feathers flying about and gave it the appearance of a snowy morning, while the Volunteers and firemen were above their shoes and water.
At seven o’clock, the St. James’s Volunteers, with their great coats on, and fixed bayonets, came and relieved the Royal Westminster in Frith-street, by the falling of the front walls, after the fire was over: - a fireman of the name of Crowder, when the wall was giving way, and endeavored to withdraw, but was prevented from getting far enough back, owing to an engine behind him; he was struck across both his thighs by some of the falling materials, so that both were broke by the violence of the blow; he was taken in the state to St. George's hospital. There were several reports of accidents, one of which was, that there was one of Mr. Moser's apprentices parished; another, that one of the royal Westminster Volunteers was killed; a third, that two other men lost their lives in rescuing the property from the flames; all which, on the strictest inquiring, we are happy to state, are totally void of truth.
At nine o’clock, the engines seized playing, the whole being then only a heap of smoking rubbish. The Volunteers kept on guard the whole of yesterday. The concourse of spectators from all parts of the town was very great; none, however, were permitted to go through these streets.
Among those whose vigilance we noticed were, Mr. Macklin, linen draper, Compton-street; Colonel Robertson, and Major Allen; as well as Lieutenant Harper, Rogers, and Beckett, &c. At ten o’clock last night, several Firemen attended, and some of the Saint James’s Volunteers, but there was no apprehension of farther danger.
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ORACLE AND THE DAILY ADVERTISER
Monday, December 5 1803
THE LATE FIRE IN FRITH-STREET, SOHO.
On Friday night about ten o’clock, after the fire in Frith-street was over, the Royal Westminster Volunteers kept guard, assisted by the firemen, to prevent plunder; one of the front walls of the ruins suddenly gave way, and fell with a dreadful crash into Frith-street; some women who were looking at the windows of the opposite house gave a scream, an insisted that they saw a man buried in the ruins; there were so positive in their assertions, that the firemen were busily employed the chief part of the night with pickaxes, spades, and shovels, and removing the rubbish that they could not perceive that any such accident had happened; on Saturday morning the search was renewed, and we are happy to find that it originated only in their distracted imaginations. The devastation which presented itself to the eye in the morning was truly shocking to any person of feeling. The remains of ten fine houses and Frith-street in one heap of smoking ruins, besides two others in the like situation in Compton-street. The streets filled with engines and carts, the ladder to assist in removing the remainder of what effects had been saved. There were heaps of rubbish and burnt timber strewed on the streets, which row above shoe deep in water. The smoke was still issuing from the ruins here and there stood a stack of chimneys, Or a party wall, which threatened immediate destruction and greatly endangered the idle spectators, who were collected to gaze and gape at the melancholy scene.
Several walls and chimneys have been pulled down; The fronts of all the opposite houses suffered very considerably: all the pains of glass being broke, the sashes, and doors singed, and all the paint blistered off. There was little damage to stains by any other of the houses beyond what we noticed in our first account.
One fact, however, may be worthy of remark, but the fire happened on the anniversary of Mr. Hogard's wedding day, which he always celebrates with much festivity, and which, very unfortunately for himself and his neighbors, has been constantly marked with some serious misfortune. On this anniversary last week his house and property were destroyed by fire; and that day twelvemonth he had his leg broken by falling down the cellar.
Among those who suffered most, were Messrs Hemmings and Westwood, having the chief part of their property, which consisted of rich furniture of all kinds, together with the whole of their extensive warehouse, that reached from Frith-street across almost into Dean-street, consumed.
We are very happy to learn that there were no lives lost, nor any accident happened, but what we mentioned with regard to Crowder, a fireman belonging to the Hand in Hand Office, who had both his legs broken, (not his thighs as was stated). He now lies at the Middlesex Hospital; his legs were both set; and it is expected he will recover the use of them.
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ORACLE AND THE DAILY ADVERTISER
Saturday, December 10 1803
WESTMINSTER FIRE-OFFICE, BEDFORD-STREET.
AT a BOARD of DIRECTORS, held at this Office on the 8th December, 1803.
Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Office be given to the GENTLEMEN of the different VOLUNTEER CORPS who attended at the dreadful FIRE in FRITH-STREET, on FRIDAY MORNING LAST, for the alacrity with which they came forward, and for their exemplary conduct while on duty.
By Order,
G. H. Browne, Sec.
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Obverse:
The obverse of this medal depicts the portcullis in the center, with sharply pointed spearheads on the ends. Individual rivets are incorporated in the design of the portcullis at every naturally occurring joint. On either side, the portcullis is attached to a draw chain intersected by a mount with additional excess chain falling freely to either the outer side. Immediately above and centered is an ornate crown with three large feathers protruding from the center. The lower pointed tips of the portcullis rest upon a platform with the word "
ESTABLISHED" inscribed at the center. The date "
MDCCXVII" appears below and supersedes the engraver's initials "
I P.". The obverse legend appears at the inner portion of the innermost rim and is dived by the primary device, with "
WESTMINSTER" appearing on the left and "
FIRE OFFICE" on the right. The slightly raised inner rim that contains the legend is restricted within a wider rim of greater relief.
Reverse:
An oak wreath is depicted on the reverse consisting of two oak branches tied in the middle by a ribbon with a single loop and two loose ends. The loose end on the left drops down and is wrapped around the end of the right branch, while the right loose end flows down and then behind the end of the left branch. The engraver's initials "
I · P . " appear below between the two loose ends. Fifteen oak leaves and eighteen acorns (two of which are incomplete) appear on the left branch, while sixteen leaves and seventeen acorns (two of which are incomplete) appear on the right branch. The center of the medal is left intentionally blank to allow the name of the recipient to be engraved. This medal engraved in four lines,
Charles Finch Esqr. Director 1821 & 1822. Like the obverse, all of this is contained within a slightly raised inner rim, superseded by a substantially wider rim of greater relief.
Edge: Plain
Size: 40mm
Purity: 0.750 (per XRF)
Weight 37.23g
Notes: I do my best to photograph every piece in my collection, but I was completely unprepared to take images of this medal. My feeble attempt appears immediately before the obverse description, while NGC’s PhotoVision images serve as the main illustration. Perhaps viewers can gather some idea of what this piece actually looks like in hand by comparing the two sets of images.