Event    From 23/1/1958  To 26/1/1958

Smithfield Market Fire, 1958

Categories: Tragedy

On 23 January 1958, a fire broke out in the basement of Union Cold Storage Co at the Smithfield Poultry Market. The fire spread throughout the maze of basements under the market and burned for three days. Over 1,700 fire fighters with 389 fire engines were required to bring the blaze under control.

Two fire fighters were killed (Fourt-Wells and Stocking) and 50 were injured or treated for smoke inhalation. The Poultry Market was largely destroyed and large portions not directly affected by fire collapsed as basements caved in. The replacement building was opened in 1963.

The introduction of breathing apparatus by the London Fire Brigade was a direct result of the fire.

The London Fire Brigade describes the fire as "One the London's worst fires since the Blitz".

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Smithfield Market Fire, 1958

Commemorated ati

Fourt-Wells + Stocking

To mark the 60th anniversary of the fire this plaque was unveiled, on one of ...

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Other Subjects

Rebecca Goossen

Rebecca Goossen

Trainee architect, 29, died after she was caught on the inside of a left-turning cement mixer as she cycled to work at Metropolitan Workshop in Cowcross Street. She was living in Bethnal Green but ...

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1 memorial
George Stephen Funnell

George Stephen Funnell

For more information about this hero click on the picture of his plaque.

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1 memorial
Neil Bowler

Neil Bowler

British, killed by the Bali bomb, age 27.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Catherine Patricia Seelin

Catherine Patricia Seelin

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial