Source:  The Builder: An Illustrated Weekly Magazine, for the Architect, Engineer, Archæologist, Constructor, Sanitary Reformer, and Art-Lover , lv 420
Date: 8 December 1888
Place: London

THE FALL OF BUILDINGS AT THE WEST-END

On Wednesday afternoon [28 November 1888] Dr. Danford Thomas, Coroner for Central Middlesex, resumed and concluded the inquest on the bodies of the six men who were unfortunately killed by the fall of buildings in Great Titchfield-street, as already mentioned in the Builder.

Among the witnesses called was Mr. George Appleton, builder, of 141, St. John’s-hill, who said he had examined the ruins of the fallen building, and he found that the weight of the building stood upon a 14-in. wall. In his opinion, the wall was not sufficiently strong to carry the weight. The wall was built in the ordinary way with mortar, and, in his opinion, it had crushed in itself. He should certainly himself have used cement instead of mortar. He should not have built such a wall without calling the attention of the architect to it. In his opinion, the columns in Riding-house-street had the heaviest weight to carry, and fell first, causing the weight to go on the other columns, and that the wall fell with it.

Mr. Miller, the architect, said he had ascertained that the girder in Riding-house-street had a weight of 37 tons 19 cwt. upon it, and the other girder 21¾ tons upon it at the time of the accident, and the other girders in Great Titchfield-street had 141¾ tons on them. He considered the 14-in. wall sufficiently strong to carry the weight put upon it. He had formed no opinion whatever himself as to the cause of the accident.

Mr. Joseph Jennings, District Surveyor for South Marylebone, deposed that he saw the foundations, and considered them good. The work, generally speaking, was very good, and seemed to be proceeding satisfactorily in accordance with the Act. He had since tested the mortar, and found it was good. He considered the girders as well as the columns strong enough to bear the weight put upon them, He was not prepared to state the cause of the accident.

Mr. George Pluckrose, partner in the firm of Messrs. Oldrey & Co., gave evidence that the works were carried out strictly in accordance with the plans and specifications. He certainly thought that the weight ought to have been more equally distributed. That not being done was, in his opinion, the main cause of the accident.

Mr. Frederick Thomas Reed, engineer, said he had examined the débris of the premises, and came to the conclusion that the cause of the collapse of the building was the centre columns, on which there was a weight of 33 tons, and the 14 in. brickwork underneath giving way.

Mr. George Hackford, architect and surveyor, deposed that, in his opinion, the cause of the accident was the central column giving way, — not being sufficiently strong to carry the weight.

Mr. H. H. Collins, District Surveyor for the Eastern Division of the City of London, said he was clearly of opinion that the cause of the collapse was the ground-floor giving way by the heavy weight put upon it. He did not put any responsibility on the architect for this accident. The District Surveyor had no power whatever of suggesting any alteration in buildings being erected, unless they considered it to be a dangerous structure.

After some further evidence, the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” adding that

“The said jurors, after hearing the evidence of the experts, are of opinion that the 14 in. wall, built with mortar, was not sufficiently strong to carry the weight of the superstructure, which on a continuous iron bressummer [the Times report is singular in calling it “Bessemer!”] was concentrated upon the column in the centre of the building in Riding-house-street, and the jurors consider that this was the cause of the sudden collapse of the building. The jurors consider that such iron columns should have been placed on brick piers built with cement, and further that the practice of loading the floors of new buildings with materials used for their construction and otherwise should be avoided, as they are likely to cause strains upon the building generally. The jurors are further of opinion that the architect, Mr. Miller, should, in the exercise of his discretion, have taken greater care in designing such building, so as to ensure their stability without risk of any kind; further that they consider that enlarged and discretionary powers should be conferred on District Surveyors so as to permit of more efficient supervision than they at present possess.”

 

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