Skegness Magazine

Midnight Blaze at Skegness
Joy-Wheel Burnt Down

Source: Skegness, Mablethorpe and Alford News 1915

Following upon the fire alarm on the Tuesday evening previous, the residents of Skegness experienced a similar thrill in the early hours of Sunday morning, when between one and two o’clock the shrill noise of the fire buzzer and the shrieking of engine whistles rudely disturbed many slumbers and gave those afflicted with “Zeppelinitis” a queer feeling in the pit of the stomach.

The hurried tramp of sections of the military down various streets and shouts and general commotion did not tend to allay the feeling of the majority of those who were unfortunate enough to be awakened, and many bedroom windows were hurriedly thrown up to ascertain the cause of the uproar.

The trouble, however, was not of German origin, although quite a number of people made a hurried toilet when they observed a huge glare in the direction of North Shore, and soon a throng of people were hurrying in that direction.

It was at first feared that the Sea View Hotel – now used as a military billet – was the scene of the conflagration, but happily these fears were not confirmed, the fire being located at the joy-wheel, adjacent to the Figure 8, and forming part of what is known as the “North Shore Pleasure Fair”.

The flames must have obtained a good hold before being noticed, but thanks in great part to the efforts of the coastguard and members of the military the free use of sand prevented the fire from spreading beyond two small wooded erections adjoining.

Their principal efforts, of course, were directed to saving the Figure 8, and in this they were happily successful, a row of charred timbers being the extent of the damage sustained by this erection.

The Skegness Fire Brigade arrived with all possible speed and the liberal use of water quickly placed the adjoining attractions out of danger, although had the wind been blowing towards the north the Figure 8 would probably have been wholly or partly destroyed. The firemen remained until 7 o’clock.

Practically the whole population took advantage of the ideal weather on Sunday to view the “wreck” which was wholly complete, nothing remaining of the joy-wheel except a conglomeration of charred wood a fragments of twisted iron-work, the electrical plant, etc.

The wheel itself certainly remained, but its former glory had dimmed except in the eyes of the marine-store dealers, whilst the Crossley engine and dynamo appeared to be of about as much use as the German navy. “Joy” had indeed fled!

The joy-wheel was the property of a syndicate, against whom leave to distrain for rent owing was granted to Mr C S Smyth, the owner of the land, by his Honour Judge Sir George Sherston Baker at the Spilsby Court a few days ago.