Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - 2 March 1860
SHIRLEY. A destructive fire broke out on Wednesday night. early on Thursday morning, on tho farm buildings belonging Mr. John Hitchcock, of Shirley, the whole of which were burnt down. We are sorry state that five valuable dairy cows perished in the flames. the alarm being given in Ashborn, Superintendent Corbishley, with his promptitude, mustered the fire brigade, &c., and dispatched police the scene of conflagration. The fire engine was conveyed to Shirley in the short space of fourteen minutes. The farm buildings were insured in the Manchester Insurance Office. There was a great scarcity of water.