1889 : Mr Pluckrose and two Collapsed Houses

Source:  The Journal of the Society of Estate Clerks of Works, ii 11
Date: 1 January 1889
Place: London

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The inquiry as to the fall of two houses in Titchfield Street, London, to which we referred in the last number of the Journal, and whereby six workmen were killed, has resulted in a somewhat unsatisfactory termination. A good deal of evidence was put before the jury, but the opinions expressed by experts were of a very conflicting character.

It would appear that one of the main walls of the building was carried on an iron girder, which in its turn was supported by iron columns resting on a 14 inch brick wall, built in mortar.

Mr. George Appleton, a builder, said that in his opinion this wall was not strong enough to carry the weight imposed upon it. Mr. Miller the architect, contended that the wall was of ample strength, but could form no opinion as to the cause of the accident, neither could Mr. Jennings, the District Surveyor; Mr. Pluckrose, of the firm of Oldrey and Co., contractors, considered the weight ought to have been more equally distributed, and to this unequal distribution must be attributed the disaster; Mr. F. T. Reed, engineer, considered it arose from the central column giving way, so did Mr. Geo. Hackford, architect, while Mr. H. H. Collins, District Surveyor for the eastern division of the city of London, attributed the cause of collapse to the dead weight of a large quantity of bricks, which were stacked on the ground floor joists.

In the face of so many opposite opinions, the jury adopted the view that the 14 inch wall was not of sufficient strength to carry the weight of that portion of the superstructure which was concentrated upon one of the columns; the jury also considered that the architect, Mr. Miller, should have taken greater care in designing such a building, so as to ensure stability without risk, and gave it as their opinion that greater discretionary power should be conferred on District Surveyors.

This is probably all the satisfaction which the families of the six unfortunate deceased workmen will get as the result of gross carelessness somewhere. No practical man will admit that an unfinished building propped up on two sides by adjoining structures could suddenly collapse as this did unless, there were radical defects either in design or construction.

The Metropolitan Building Acts are voluminous enough to provide for every possible exigency, and yet where a building is being erected without due regards to safety, the District Surveyor appears to have no authority to interfere other than to indict it as a dangerous structure.

This is almost certainly George Pluckrose, PL2445 in Twig 15.

 

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