Camden Market fire

[Matt Green]

Looks bad:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7237119.stm

 

[Nemesis]

Oh not nice. Let's hope no casualties.

I'm waiting for the western market buildings at Smithfieldto go up in flames..)

 

[Penners]

We were there not long ago, on a day out with London-dwelling son and daughter-in-law.

It is/was an area of great character, but full of alleys and dusty corners. I can't say that news of the fire came as a great surprise.

An awful shame, though. You can never re-create that kind of character (as we period property owners know).

 

[Nemesis]

No doubt it will be seen as a great opportunity by some to build new and high...

 

[Juju]

I was there yesterday afternoon visiting my university's London office. I have to say I can't see the attraction of Camden - I find it a bit overwhelming and busy plus someone tried to nick the contents of my bag... But of course it's shocking about the fire - it's scary how fast these fires spread.

 

[Nemesis]

I have no doubt several nice buildings have been lost although I gather no-one injured - at least I hope not.

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/12/1286/Hawley_Arms/Camden

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/amy-winehouse-and-the-hawley-arms-mob-the-home-of-the-camden-caners-462187.html

Food served, Sunday roast,

Still no doubt it will aid the developers:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=427&storycode=3094626&c=2&encCode=0000000001399ad3


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/10/london.camden.fire?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

But they could not save the iconic Hawley Arms pub, famed for its showbiz crowd including troubled singer Amy Winehouse, model Kate Moss and her one-time boyfriend Pete Doherty. The fire cut through the building - once a Hell's Angels hangout but now one of the capital's trendiest night spots - for several hours.

Aymon Preston, 22, told The Observer: 'I was in a bar having a drink and the window just came caving in and everyone started running for their lives, screaming. There was this bang. We didn't know if it was a fire or a bomb. Everyone was panicking.'

The local bar worker added: 'Everyone just left the building. We looked back and there were flames. Whatever it was it must have been big because the thing just blew up.'

Pat Callaghan, a local councillor, said the seat of the fire appeared to be in the Hawley Wharf area. 'It's the opposite side of the lock from Stables Market. There are railway arches near there with car maintenance garages underneath. I'm surmising that some of the substances used in the garages could have exacerbated the fire.'

She added that parts of the site were old, and therefore at risk. 'Health and safety wasn't a paramount concern when people were building it. There is a lot of wood inside the buildings.'

http://www.camdenlock.net/camdenlock/history/history.html


I like Greenwich, I have to say. I think that's under threat too.

 

[Nemesis]

Latest news and video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7237455.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/10/nfire210.xml

 

[Schoolmarm]

Terrible.

Camden is brilliant, my daughter was there for three years at the Royal Veterinary College.
I loved visiting her and wandering round the market.