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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

Harry Mallaby-Deeley

Harry Mallaby-Deeley

Politician. He sat as MP for Harrow and then Willesden East, and was renowned for rarely if ever speaking in the house. He was more successful as a property dealer, and in 1913 purchased the whole ...

Person, Politics & Administration, Property

1 memorial
Abney House and Park

Abney House and Park

The house was built in 1700 and we understand it was close to Stoke Newington Church Street (rather than set back in the grounds). Lady Abney inherited the Manor of Stoke Newington in 1701 from her...

Building, Property

2 memorials
Whiteley Village

Whiteley Village

A retirement village created with a bequest from William Whiteley. A charitable trust provides almshouses for people of limited financial means. From the Arts and Crafts Movement in Surrey: "The s...

Place, Property, Social Welfare

4 memorials
The Potteries and the Piggeries

The Potteries and the Piggeries

A notorious Victorian slum in Kensington. From the late 18th century this was an area where bricks were made to supply nearby construction sites.  As London was developed agricultural activities w...

Place, Craft / Design, Property

1 memorial
Whitehall Palace

Whitehall Palace

The palace covered the area approximately bounded by (clockwise) Northumberland Avenue, Victoria Embankment, Derby Gate, Downing Street, Horse Guards Road, The Mall.  The area was already a centre ...

Building, Property, Royalty

1 memorial

Previously viewed

A. E. Prichard

A. E. Prichard

Member of the Ealing District Council in 1899.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Harry Houdini

Harry Houdini

Escape artist.  Born Erik Weisz in Budapest.  Later names include: Ehrich Weiss, Harry Weiss.  The family moved to the US in 1878.  He had a very close relationship with his mother, to whom he alwa...

Person, Paranormal, Seriously Famous, Theatre, Hungary, USA

1 memorial
24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's)

24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's)

London unit which served in WW1. Their Wikipedia page gives details about the origins of the battalion, their battle honours and how in 1937 the battalion reverted to the Queen's Royal Regiment (W...

Group, Armed Forces

2 memorials