English: Biggleswade: The Crown Hotel The Crown's history as a coaching inn on the old A1 road through Biggleswade is evidenced by the large and high gate at the far end where the old sign advertising livery and bait for sale has been retained. However the Crown's main claim to fame is that it was the place where the Great Fire of Biggleswade began on 16 June 1785. It was apparently started due to the carelessness of a servant who dumped ashes from the kitchen fire in the hotel yard near some dry straw. The ensuing inferno destroyed nearly a third of Biggleswade. The loss was estimated at £22,500, a fortune at the time. The Crown was however rebuilt and opened again in 1793. The hotel's website http://www.crownhotelbiggleswade.co.uk/ ironically offers a warm welcome...