Chloride, Clifton Junction
Christmas Day Tragedy
1901
On Christmas Day 1901 a terrible accident occurred at the Chloride Electrical Syndicate’s Works at Clifton, where two men suffocated and a third was overcome by gas fumes.
The closure for the Christmas holiday was an ideal opportunity for general maintenance and repairs to take place. Several local men were employed to remove an eight foot gas holder enclosed in brickwork which formed part of a Gasometer and replace it with a larger one.
Great attempts were made by doctors Berry and John Herbert of Carrington House, Bolton Road to treat the injured men. Walter Crankshaw and Charles Fitchett both lost their lives from asphyxiation and Carbon Monoxide gas poisoning that day, William Chapman who was conveyed to Salford Royal Hospital succumbed to his injuries on New Years day.
The closure for the Christmas holiday was an ideal opportunity for general maintenance and repairs to take place. Several local men were employed to remove an eight foot gas holder enclosed in brickwork which formed part of a Gasometer and replace it with a larger one.
Great attempts were made by doctors Berry and John Herbert of Carrington House, Bolton Road to treat the injured men. Walter Crankshaw and Charles Fitchett both lost their lives from asphyxiation and Carbon Monoxide gas poisoning that day, William Chapman who was conveyed to Salford Royal Hospital succumbed to his injuries on New Years day.
Carrington House
An enquiry into the deaths was held at Pendlebury Town Hall in early January 1902 before local coroner Mr J. F. Price. Narrative from George Grindle the works manager suggested instructions to foreman Fitchett were to remove the brickwork from the base of the gas holder and then remove the holder from the outside. Fitchett was said to be an experienced worker and fully aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide Gas and why any of the work party to enter inside to disconnect pipework was a mystery.
Another witness Charles Poston from Moorside Road told the enquiry Fitchett requested him to cut a manhole in the top of the gas holder to access pipework. The foreman then instructed Crankshaw to enter and Chapman to follow him, realising his error he sought to rescue the two men but was immediately overcome by fumes himself. Poston managed to help Chapman and considered himself extremely lucky not to have been seriously affected.
The enquiry decided a verdict of death by misadventure or accidental death due to an error of judgement. Chloride paid for the all three of the funerals and subsequent burials.
Another witness Charles Poston from Moorside Road told the enquiry Fitchett requested him to cut a manhole in the top of the gas holder to access pipework. The foreman then instructed Crankshaw to enter and Chapman to follow him, realising his error he sought to rescue the two men but was immediately overcome by fumes himself. Poston managed to help Chapman and considered himself extremely lucky not to have been seriously affected.
The enquiry decided a verdict of death by misadventure or accidental death due to an error of judgement. Chloride paid for the all three of the funerals and subsequent burials.
Pendlebury Town Hall
William Chapman was just 29 years old when he unexpectedly lost his life. He survived a week after the accident passing away on 1st January 1902, his funeral took place on 4th January, attended by a good crowd, he was interred in Swinton Cemetery. He lived with his wife Martha Alice and two young children at 75 Dorning Street known locally as ‘The Valley Below’ or Light Barn/Light Bourne Green (renamed in later years to Dorning Road, the housing estate is still known as The Valley and general area Light Bourne Green),his daughter Dorothy had been born in 1896 and the youngest Percy in 1899. The family was still living in the same house in 191, Martha was earning a wage cleaning. Dorothy was employed as a laundry maid, even 12 year old Percy still at school had a part time job as a ‘Barbers Latherer Boy’. This must have suited Percy as he later became a Barber and Hairdresser with his own shop at 64 Chorley Road from at least the mid 1920’s, his wife Alice Ann kept house for him, he was an ARP warden during WWII. Today 64 Chorley Road, Swinton is a beauty salon near opposite Critchley Café. Martha remarried in 1916 to Albert Anderton who was also widowed. Widowed for a second time she went to live with her daughter Dorothy, son in law and granddaughter Joan, she passed away in 1956 aged 83 and is buried alongside her first husband William. Dorothy married Sydney Hales in 1928, they lived on Dryden Avenue.
Charles Fitchett was 42 years old when he met with his untimely death. Originally from Derbyshire he moved to Manchester with his parents as a young boy. He was married to Sarah, as their family grew they moved to more suitable housing. They began married life at Boardmans Buildings off Bolton Road, Pendlebury, followed by moves to Cobden Street, Haroll Gate on Manchester Road near opposite Victoria Park and finally to 203 Swinton Hall Road. The couple had five children, when Charles passed away the eldest was 11 years old and the baby of the family was just 10 months old. The eldest four children, wife Sarah along with other family members followed his funeral procession to Swinton Cemetery on December 30th. Martha Chapman the wife of William Chapman who was still gravely ill in hospital sent flowers with money recovered from her husbands pocket. Sarah remarried to John Quinn after a respectable period of mourning,(they had one daughter together) she passed away in 1936 and was buried alongside Charles. Of the children I know the two sons Robert Frederick and Walter enlisted at the beginning of WWI and were both wounded. Walter passed away in 1920 and is also buried with Charles, I have wondered if Walters early death was a result of his war injuries from 1917. Robert went on to live a long life, at some point also working at Chloride. In later life he became the Caretaker of the public hall and library presumably in Pendlebury. He and his wife Annie (Blease) lived on Buchanan Street, Pendlebury, neighbouring his elder sister Frances and her husband William Evans. The two youngest children Hannah and Florence went on to marry. I’m quite sure there are a number of Fitchett descendants still living around the area.
Charles Fitchett was 42 years old when he met with his untimely death. Originally from Derbyshire he moved to Manchester with his parents as a young boy. He was married to Sarah, as their family grew they moved to more suitable housing. They began married life at Boardmans Buildings off Bolton Road, Pendlebury, followed by moves to Cobden Street, Haroll Gate on Manchester Road near opposite Victoria Park and finally to 203 Swinton Hall Road. The couple had five children, when Charles passed away the eldest was 11 years old and the baby of the family was just 10 months old. The eldest four children, wife Sarah along with other family members followed his funeral procession to Swinton Cemetery on December 30th. Martha Chapman the wife of William Chapman who was still gravely ill in hospital sent flowers with money recovered from her husbands pocket. Sarah remarried to John Quinn after a respectable period of mourning,(they had one daughter together) she passed away in 1936 and was buried alongside Charles. Of the children I know the two sons Robert Frederick and Walter enlisted at the beginning of WWI and were both wounded. Walter passed away in 1920 and is also buried with Charles, I have wondered if Walters early death was a result of his war injuries from 1917. Robert went on to live a long life, at some point also working at Chloride. In later life he became the Caretaker of the public hall and library presumably in Pendlebury. He and his wife Annie (Blease) lived on Buchanan Street, Pendlebury, neighbouring his elder sister Frances and her husband William Evans. The two youngest children Hannah and Florence went on to marry. I’m quite sure there are a number of Fitchett descendants still living around the area.
Charles Fitchett family grave in Swinton Cemetery
Walter Crankshaw was a man in his late 20’s in 1901 and apparently lodging presumably with his wife somewhere on City Walk, Pendlebury, earlier in the year he appears on the census visiting his sister in Radcliffe whilst his wife Mary remained in the home they shared with her parents on Clarendon Road. Walter and Mary married at St Peters Church in the autumn of 1897. Walter was born 1872 in Blackrod but raised in Radcliffe. It was to Radcliffe he made his final journey, buried at St Thomas’ close to the home of his sister on December 28th 1901. Mary remarried in 1913 to Herbert Alexander.
© Susan Tydd 2022
Please do not reproduce without permission
© Susan Tydd 2022
Please do not reproduce without permission