Location
On the east facing side of a pillar on the north side of the Quire (see Cathedral Plan).
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Site of Grave
Gravestone
MARY PALMER
WHO LOST HER LIFE AT A FIRE
AT HILL'S, HIGH STREET, PORTSMOUTH
ON THE 14TH SEPTEMBER 1888
This tablet is erected by
some Naval Officers as a
mark of esteem and respect
Further Information
Mary Palmer, aged 54, was chief assistant at Hill's pastry Cooks, Confectioners and Restaurant at 91 The High Street, she had worked for the firm for 25 years. On the night of Friday 14th September, she retired to bed early, her room was at the top of the building, leaving 2 younger assistants to have their late supper. The oil lamp exploded and set fire to the building, the alarm
was raised by the staff at The George Hotel by telephone to the police station at Landport, the fire engine arrived within 9 minutes, having just got back from an uninportant fire in Middle Street Southsea. By the time they arrived the staircase was alight, the assistants realizing that Mary was still in the building, managed to cut a hole in the ceiling of the room below Mary's, but they were too late, she had been suffocated by the smoke.
[From Portsmouth Times & Naval Gazette Saturday September 22nd 1888]
Mary was born on February 27th, 1831 in Weymouth, Dorset and christened on 19 June 1831. Her parents were Joseph and Mary Palmer (nee Wood). In the 1881 Census, Mary is recorded as being a "Confectioner's Assistant" to Mr Henry Ryan, Confectioner, who was living at 91 High Street with his wife Fanny (nee Hill, after whom the shop was probably named), 2 daughters of 17 and 19 years and two servants. The shop, which stood in the row of buildings that obscured the Cathedral from the High Street, was either known as Hill's or Fanny Hill's and by 1888 it had a reputation for excellence, in no small part due to Mary, but it was not always so described for in 1866 Sir Frederick Madden had eaten there and written that "The mock turtle soup was sour, and the cold beef tough; the Bath buns uneatable!" Plainly, Mary's presence had improved the fare.
Fatal Fire At Portsmouth
The last chapter in the latest Portsmouth tragedy, was that which was enacted on Wednesday, when, amid, every token of deepest sympathy and respect the remains of the late Miss Mary Palmer, the unfortunate victim in last friday night's fire were interred in Highland Road cemetery; there was perhaps no inhabitant of Portsmouth, better known or more esteemed than Miss Palmer, and consequently as the hour for the cortege to leave Broad Street for the burial ground drew near, quite a large crowd and friends congregated, and by the time a start was made the thoroughfare of that part of Broad Street where the Floating bridge Company entrance is situated was occupied by quite 300 people. It was 1.35pm, before the undertakers men merged from the house and carefully laid their burden in the Washington Car that was waiting, and as the short distance from the doorway to the curb was transfered, the men reverently bared their heads and many of the women were unable to restrain a sob. The coffin was one of handsome design in polished oak with brass furniture but very little of it could be seen so numerous were the large and handsome wreathes that were placed there, and not only by relatives but a very large circle of friends including the messmen and stewards of the ships in Portsmouth harbour and the Wardroom Officers of HMS Vernon.
After the hearse came 6 carriages most of the gentlemen of the jury at the inquest were also present and so many tradespeople of Portsmouth including Charpentier. All along the line of the route which lay past the scene of the conflagation in the High Street and through King's Road, were spectators and at the cemetery the crowd was so large that the police had some little difficulty in keeping the approaches to the Mortuary chapel and graveside sufficiently clear.
The service was conducted by the Reverend E P Grant, Vicar of Portsmouth and the body was interred in the northern portion of the consecrated side of the cemetery. Mr Harris of Queen Street was the undertaker.
According to Mr Long, Cemeteries Manager in a letter of May 22 1996, the headstone had become separated from its base. The inscription read:-
IN MEMORY OF MARY PALMER WHO PERISHED IN THE FIRE
AT 91 HIGH STREET PORTSMOUTH SEPTEMBER 14 1888
AGED 52 FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH THIS CROSS WAS
ERECTED BY HER FRIENDS AS A MARK OF RESPECT
Mr Long also said that she was originally interred with Richard J Palmer but for some reason her remains were exhumed and re-interred in 2nd Central Plot Row 12B Grave no. 6
Thanks to Jenny Stringer for this information.
