Whitstable is a town defined by its modern-day popularity; a once sleepy seaside fishing town now enjoying its status as something of a tourist Mecca.

But there lurks an often forgotten dark chapter in its history - one which, over the course of just one night 155 years ago, redefined the town.

It was on the evening of Wednesday, November 10 - not, as is often incorrectly reported, November 16 - a fire broke out which would have catastrophic consequences. It would consume much of what is today the town’s most popular area for day-trippers.

It was described as “the most alarming and destructive” ever to have hit the town.

In 1869, the town was very different to how it was today. While reknowned, even then, for its oysters, it was, as the Kent Messenger report at the time described it “principally a long straggling street along the shore”.

And, unfortunately, it was something of a tinder box.

The KM report goes on: “The space nearest the sea is occupied by fishermen’s stores, sail lofts and timber yards. All the buildings, whether for residence or business are largely composed of wood, coated with pitch or tar.”

The alarm was first raised about 10.45pm. Exactly how the fire broke out is lost in the mists of time, but it was reported to have started in the wooden building of mast and block maker Charles Hoult.

His building was to the west of the harbour, along what is known as Sea Wall today.

With the wind off the sea fanning the flames inland, the fire spread at a rapid pace - engulfing nearby premises.

In an era before the invention of the telephone, a telegram was, instead, sent to nearby fire services to come and assist in tackling the blaze - a form of communication which normally involved Morse code messages being sent and deciphered at either end. A messenger on horseback was also despatched to summon aid.

Help was needed too as the Whitstable fire pump - naturally the first on the scene - found itself in trouble. Drawing water from the sea to fill its hoses, it quickly became jammed with sand and debris, rendering it useless.

Fire teams from Canterbury and Faversham rushed to the scene and crowds flooded onto the streets to watch the inferno rip through the buildings.

The situation for townsfolk was made worse by the decision to turn off gas supplies to prevent it igniting. The result was plunging the town into almost complete darkness. Electricity in homes was still a thing of the future.

Meanwhile, the wind “carried the fire from store to store and cottage to cottage” in spite of efforts to prevent it.

The Kent Messenger said of spread of the fire: “The buildings along the sea wall were speedily in a blaze and the flames extended to a range of dwelling and shops in Harbour Street - laying them waste for some distance”.

Those living in the houses had to flee carrying, in many cases, just the clothes on their back. Some fleeing “almost in a state of nudity”. One said the flames were so bright it created so much light “objects at a great distance might be seen almost as at midday”.

Among the notable buildings destroyed was the Victoria Inn - roughly where the Whitstable Yacht Club office on Sea Wall is now sited - and the Spread Eagle pub midway down Harbour Street.

In addition, more than 70 buildings were completely destroyed in a “triangular figures from the Victoria Inn towards the direction of the South Eastern Railway Station [thought to refer to the one located on the sea-side of the road opposite what is today the Gorrell Tank car park] towards the centre of the town, along the sea-wall on the one side and Harbour Street on the other”.

The newspaper report added “the devastation was going on with such terrible rapidity as to suggest fears for the safety of the rest of the town, or at least, the old timber-built part of it”.

The harbour - and the many boats within it - is thought to have been spared by the demolished buildings between it and the fast approaching flames, acting as an effective fire break.

By 2.30am the fire was under control - the “demon of destruction” as one report put it, finally over.

The blaze had completely laid to waste an area between five to six acres, so that a person standing on the east side of Harbour Street now had an uninterrupted view of the sea”.

Of the 72 buildings destroyed 35 were stores and 16 were cottages. Some three sail lofts, a timber yard, three shoemakers, a forge and a shipping office were all reduced to rubble.

An additional dozen properties were left partially burned.

It is estimated the insurance cost of the damage was some £13,500 - the equivalent today of just short of £1.4m. Many people’s insurance did not cover the total losses.

Mr Hoult - in whose yard it is thought the blaze began - is thought to have been covered for just 50% of his losses. Some had no insurance at all.

Remarkably, however, fatalities were low. Even when around 40lbs of gunpowder stored at an ironmonger’s exploded, it did so without causing any injury.

The only death reported was that of a young woman who was gravely ill in her bed when the fire took hold. She was rescued and was uninjured but subsequently passed away as she was being transferred to a friend’s house.

Remarkably, however, fatalities were low. Even when around 40lbs of gunpowder stored at an ironmonger’s exploded, it did so without causing any injury.

The only death reported was that of a young woman who was gravely ill in her bed when the fire took hold. She was rescued and was uninjured but subsequently passed away as she was being transferred to a friend’s house.

The only other victim reported was, bizarrely, a monkey called Jacko which Mr Hoult had in his workshop and, as the talk of the town at the time relayed, had been left alone there while Mr Hoult was away. Some speculated the animal may have been responsible, but the cause of the fire remains a mystery.

The following days saw large crowds gather after reading about the inferno in papers, with the coverage reaching as far as India.

The community came to the aid of those stricken by the loss of their homes and possessions. Those left homeless were taken in by friends and neighbours.

Within days, a committee was created and tasked with helping those left destitute.

Concerts were held to raise funds and The Fire Relief Fund had raised some £750 (the equivalent of some £75,000) within the month.

Today, there remains no markers of the fire - the land long since redeveloped.

However, in the Whitstable Museum is the town’s fire pump which first responded to the blaze - provided three years earlier by the Norwich Union insurance company in an effort to protect its policyholders and, of course, save it money. The horses were kept at what was the Bear and Key pub - on the opposite side to the road to where the Duke of Cumberland is today and previously occupied by restaurant Prezzo.