Cambridge Broadsides : The Cambridgeshire Tragedy

Cambridge Broadsides

<p style='text-align: justify;'>A catchpenny broadside detailing a real-life tragedy which occurred in Burwell in 1727, when a barn in which a travelling puppet show was performing caught fire, killing 78 people. Though the outline of what is described here appears to be accurate, various details are less so. In particular, the name of the person who started the fire appears to have been Richard Whitaker rather than Roger Parks. Like most such publications this is undated, and nothing is recorded of the printer. It may date from some time after the event it relates, which provided a subject for ballads until at least the mid-eighteenth century. <br />Will Hale, Rare Books Specialist, CUL</p>