The Great Fire of Hagbourne 1659

Nearly all of East Hagbourne perished in the blaze 350 years ago (photo by Simon Stevenson)

350 years ago the village of East Hagbourne was ravaged by a ferocious fire.

The inferno was worsened by a strong East wind which made short work of the thatched cottages and wooden buildings.

The villagers tried to combat the disaster utilising firehooks from St Andrew's and Blewbury churches to pull down the burning thatch.

St Andrew's Church, which was made of stone, was the only building left standing.

Charles II requested aid for the villagers via a proclamation sent to all churches in England, which made reference to, "the great impoverishment of the poor inhabitants of our town of Hagbourne."

St. Andrews church was the only building left standing (photo by Simon Stevenson)

There followed donations to the village, including a sum from London. After the Great Fire of London of 1666 the villagers did not forget this act of charity, and raised funds for the relief of Londoners suffering in its wake.

BBC Oxford's Malcolm Boyden spoke to Craig Barfoot on the anniversary of the fire. Barfoot explained that the myth that the fire split East and West Hagbourne into seperate villages appears to be unfounded.