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Another Fire at Portsea.
—About four o’clock on Wednesday morning a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Denison, Government contractor, known as the Mile-end Mills, at Landport, in the parish of Portsea. The premises consisted of an ordinary circular wind and steam mill, engine-house, bakery, and offices. The mill was gutted, and the stores also nearly consumed. The offices were likewise damaged by water and fire. The premises were stocked with barley, malt, flour, and other produce, together with a valuable plant, used in preparing paper pulp from straw, and the loss is estimated at upwards of £6,000. The flames rose to a great altitude through the shaft of the mill, and the sails having become ignited, presented in the darkness of the night a grand spectacle. The engines of the Royal Artillery stationed at Hilsea and Southsea Castle, together with the Borough and Fort Cumberland engines, were quickly on the spot, but were unable to prevent the destruction of the property, which we understand was insured for £3,500 in the Atlas. The fire is supposed to have originated from a spot just above the boiler in the engine-house.
— West London Times,, Saturday 17 January 1863 source