A view over Newcastle (on the far side of the River Tyne) and Gateshead (in the foreground) during the great fire which killed more than 50 people and destroyed many buildings. The fire started on 6 October in a worsted factory on the Gateshead side. Sulphur and other combustible materials in a nearby warehouse were ignited by the heat. The resulting huge explosion projected burning debris across Newcastle and thus the fire spread rapidly.