Event    From 15/8/1853  To 15/8/1853

Crystal Palace fatal accident

Categories: Tragedy

After the Great Exhibition of 1851 closed, the Crystal Palace was dismantled and reconstructed in Sydenham. During a time of high unemployment the project provided jobs for over 7,000 workmen. The accident occurred when tons of scaffolding supporting the centre transept collapsed and killed twelve workers.

The cause of the collapse was never determined, but the fact that the scaffolding was supported not on the ground, but on already constructed galleries around the central transept may have contributed to the accident. Our photograph shows the reconstruction underway.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Crystal Palace fatal accident

Commemorated ati

Crystal Palace fatal accident

{Around an illustration of the Crystal Palace:} The grave beneath this yew tr...

Read More

Other Subjects

Hugh Joseph Fitzpatrick

Hugh Joseph Fitzpatrick

Junior Boilermaker on the RMS Titanic. A full résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website.  He is also commemorated on the Engineers Memorial, Andrews East Park, Above Bar...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy, Ireland

1 memorial
Peter Dobson Allen

Peter Dobson Allen

Peter Dobson Allen was born on 4 January 1931, the son of Fred Allen (1902-1957) and Ethel Allen née Dobson (1903-1990). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1931 in the Dewsbury registra...

Person, Industry, Politics & Administration, Tragedy

1 memorial
Noelle Lydie Berti

Noelle Lydie Berti

Noelle Lydie Berti was born on 24 December 1947 in the 9th Arrondissement, Paris, France, the daughter of Jacqueline Campbell. The Clipper Crew website gives many details of her life, including th...

Person, Aviation, Tragedy, France, Scotland, USA

1 memorial
Karla Roman

Karla Roman

Grew up in Brazil. A qualified architect, aged 32, she began work at LOM Architecture and Design, in Shoreditch, in January 2015. Killed at 9am as she cycled to work. August 2018: The driver of th...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy, Brazil

1 memorial
Kenan Yılmaz

Kenan Yılmaz

21 years old, hotel employee

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial

Previously viewed

George Morffew

George Morffew

Sergeant George Charles Morffew. He is incorrectly shown on the Hoxton War Memorial attached to Holy Trinity Church, Bletchley Street, London, N1 7QG, as George Morfew. He was born on 5 February ...

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Aneurin Bevan

Aneurin Bevan

Politician. Born at 32 Charles Street, Tredegar, Wales. Known as Nye. He began work in the coal mines at the age of 13, becoming Chairman of the Miners' Lodge, leading them in the general strike of...

Person, Politics & Administration, Wales

2 memorials
Dudgeon's Wharf explosion - oblong plaque

Dudgeon's Wharf explosion - oblong plaque

E14, Sextant Avenue, Thames Path

The unveiling of this plaque was reported in the East London Advertiser of 24 December 2009. Andrew Behan has researched the names on th...

8 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Alderman Sir Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale

Alderman Sir Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale

Sheriff of the City of London, 1894.  Born Cornhill.  Lord Mayor 1901-2. MP for the City of London from 1900 to 1906. Married Beatrice Eliza Bower Holdsworth in 1873. Our correspondent, Alicia Col...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
E. J. H. Helpman

E. J. H. Helpman

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial