The busy city market where tragedy once struck

People often visit the area but its tragic past is lesser known

Cambridge Market Square is a charming and colourful area that thousands of people walk past each day. It sits in the centre of the city and is a key tourist hotspot that plenty of locals recognise almost instantly.

However, not everyone is aware it was the scene of a tragedy more than 150 years ago. The market is an iconic part of the city today and it dates back centuries to the Middle Ages.

It has always been a distinguished part of the city, but it has only been in its current form since the mid-19th-century. This is because it was almost completely destroyed in a tragic event that could have resulted far worse than it was.

On September 15, 1849, disaster struck at about half past midnight. A huge blaze tore through the market which came to be known as the ‘Great Fire of Cambridge Market’. It started in a textile shop but got out of control and spread to the local chemist.

The chemicals for the medicines reportedly blew up and the incident reached levels far more dangerous. Townspeople rushed to the scene to tackle the blaze, but the keys to the water supply could not be found.

So, in an attempt to extinguish the blaze, a long human chain of buckets was formed to fetch water from the River Cam. The fire engulfed eight houses, completely destroying them and many others were seriously damaged. As a result of the fire, all the old timber structures of the market area were destroyed, which is why today’s market is surrounded by stone and brick buildings.