On 13th November 1856, in the early hours of the morning, fire broke out in a blanket store of the south wing, occupied by the girls. Because of the lack of water and the large amount of timber, the fire spread quickly. Luckily no one was killed or injured but hundreds of children were left sitting on the grass, crying and holding the little ones. My Overton, a local farmer, kindly took the younger children and the sick into his nearby farmhouse and buildings, until their return the following day in the remaining north wing.