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Workers killed at work (builders)

Categories: Property, Tragedy

Group

The thousands of building workers who have lost their lives at work.

Researching one of these terrible events reminded us that we have found other memorials to people who died in 'accidents' at work. We don't like the word 'accident', since it suggests that nothing could have been done to prevent the death and that is seldom true. We've put together a list of these memorials to deaths at work (many but not all, building workers). To keep it manageable we have excluded: those serving in the emergency services, those killed in terrorist attacks or by war-time bombs, and those killed in rail crashes or on the road.

1853 - ten workmen killed at the Sydenham Crystal Palace construction site.

1877 - six crew members killed during the voyage bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London.

1895 - four men killed at the sewage pumping works, East Ham (Postman's Park).

1899 - one man killed in a boiler explosion at a Battersea sugar refinery (Postman's Park).

1899 - one stewardess drowned (Postman's Park).

1901 - three workmen poisoned by gas at a Stratford distillery ((Postman's Park).

1912 - about 900 crew members lost on the Titanic.

1917 - 73 people were killed in the Silvertown explosion, at a factory producing TNT for the war.

1969 - one demolition worker killed in the Dudgeon's Wharf explosion.

1975 - two engineers killed trying to rescue a third who also died, at Watneys' Mortlake Brewery.

1979 - four men involved in the design of Burgess Park killed in an air crash near Biggin Hill (not certain this was work-related).

1990 - three men killed by the gases in a sewer in Commercial Road.

2000 - three men killed in a construction crane at Canary Wharf.

The death toll at each of the events recorded on plaques in Postman's Park may be higher, but the plaques do not mention deaths of any except those attempting rescue.

In 2006 the statue to the thousands of building workers who have lost their lives at work was erected.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Workers killed at work (builders)

Commemorated ati

Ainsworth & Sharp

We could find nothing about this incident, until we asked Richmond Council's ...

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Burgess, Clark and Whittard

In memory of Martin Burgess, Peter Clark and Michael Whittard, who died on 21...

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Burgess Park designers - 1979 air crash

Geoffrey Mills was the pilot - see his page for more details. Our information...

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Cleopatra's needle - crew members lost

{A list of 6 names, oddly not in alphabetical sequence - see Subjects commemo...

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Crystal Palace workmen's grave

Twelve workmen were killed, but we are unable to find out where the other two...

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Show all 13

Other Subjects

Bow Road Railway Station

Bow Road Railway Station

The authoritative-looking picture source website gives the date of opening as 4 April 1892 (contradicting the plaque) and the closing date as 1949 for passengers and 1962 finally.

Building, Property, Transport

1 memorial
George Wimpey Ltd

George Wimpey Ltd

Based in Hammersmith initially so an early job was very local - the Hammersmith Town Hall.  Also: the first electric tramway in London and the White City exhibition buildings including the 1908 Oly...

Group, Engineering, Property

1 memorial
The Cottage, 1618

The Cottage, 1618

From Westminster: Mayfair suffered a direct hit during the Blitz of winter 1940 and the area’s oldest cottage, which had an inscription over its doorway ‘The Cottage, 1618 A.D’ was destroyed. This ...

Building, Property

1 memorial
Gee, Walker and Slater

Gee, Walker and Slater

A family run building firm, active 1937. Incorporated 1922. 1961 acquired by McAlpines. Adrian Gee was a director.  The firm had a long association with Rolls-Royce. Information from Grace's Guide.

Group, Property

1 memorial
Stamford Street Unitarian Chapel

Stamford Street Unitarian Chapel

Built to house two congregations which had united following the loss of their chapels: Princes Street, Westminster and St. Thomas's Street, Southwark. In 1897 the congregation of the Blackfriars Mi...

Building, Property, Religion

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Roberts statue

Roberts statue

SW1, Horse Guards Parade

Unveiled by the Duke of Connaught and we thank Jamie Davis for finding this link to the British Pathe news film of the unveiling. This i...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Sir Joseph Savory, MP

Sir Joseph Savory, MP

Born Clapton.  Alderman on the Bridge House Estates Committee, 1894.  Lord Mayor of London 1890-1.  

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
John Stuart Mill statue

John Stuart Mill statue

WC2, Victoria Embankment Gardens

Unveiled by Fawcett, an admirer.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Steve Hudson

Steve Hudson

Engineer and creator of the Dartford Remembered Facebook page.

Person, Community / Clubs, Engineering

1 memorial
Frieze of Parnassus - Stone

Frieze of Parnassus - Stone

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, officially titled the Prince Consort National Memorial, celebrates Victorian achievement and Prince Albert's passions and i...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator