Great Fire of Warwick

This was mostly due to the townspeople fleeing to the church for protection, one of only a few stone buildings in the town, as they fled however they carried their possessions with them, some of which were either ablaze or smoldering.

[2][page needed] The Great Fire of Warwick made builders review the way they constructed buildings.

The post-fire homes in Warwick also got rid of the jetted façades and the concept of timber-framed construction in which floors of buildings overhung each other.

[2][page needed] The town gave compensation to those whose property was destroyed by the street widening process just so that the Fire Act rules would be followed.

[3] Francis joined his brother in the reconstruction of St. Mary's Church, but later became a successful architect, overseeing the project of the new courthouse.