| Revision as of 15:32, 11 March 2016 editPigsonthewing (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Event coordinators, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers, Template editors266,658 edits Undid revision 708884198 by Hazard-Bot (talk) Not appropriate here← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 14:23, 4 July 2024 edit undoForsythiaJo (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users58,032 edits removed Category:Theatre fires; added Category:Theatre fires in Europe using HotCat | ||
| (40 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} | |||
| A fire killed eight young girls at the Garrick Theatre, ], ], in 1916. | |||
| ] | |||
| In 1916, at the Garrick Theatre in ], England, eight child performers were killed by a fire during a fund-raising concert. One of the group's costumes caught light when they were leaving the stage. | |||
| == Theatre == | == Theatre == | ||
| Line 7: | Line 10: | ||
| == Concert == | == Concert == | ||
| In 1916, during ], a fund-raising concert was held "for the benefit of the Herefords and Shropshires"<ref name="Chester">{{cite web|url= |
In 1916, during ], a fund-raising concert was held "for the benefit of the Herefords and Shropshires"<ref name="Chester">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-25154112|title=World War One: Hereford theatre fire killed eight at fundraiser|last=Chester|first=Jerry|date=24 February 2014|work=]|accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref> (two local county regiments, the former being the ], the latter the ]) at the Garrick Theatre, ].<ref name="BBC-26354428">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-26354428|title=Memorial call for WW1 Hereford theatre deaths|date=2014-02-26|work=]|accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref> One of the turns was provided by more than forty local school-children,<ref name="Chester" /> wearing ] and ] costumes made in part from ],<ref name="BBC-26354428" /><ref name="BBC-p01qmn7v" /> even though its use was prohibited in theatres, due to the risk of fire.<ref name="Chester" /> | ||
| As a group of 13 children were leaving the stage, one of their costumes caught fire: within moments, all 13 were alight.<ref name="Chester" /> | As a group of 13 children were leaving the stage, one of their costumes caught fire: within moments, all 13 were alight.<ref name="Chester" /> | ||
| By the end of the night, despite rescue efforts by members of the cast and audience,<ref name="Chester" /> six children had died.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> Two more died subsequently from their burns.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> | By the end of the night, despite rescue efforts by members of the cast and audience,<ref name="Chester" /> six children had died.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> Two more died subsequently from their burns.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> | ||
| == Funerals == | |||
| ⚫ | A joint funeral for five of the victims was held at ].<ref name="Chester" /><ref name="BBC-p01qmn7v">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qmn7v|title=World War One At Home, Garrick House, Hereford: Tragic End to a Fundraiser|date=27 January 2014|work=]|accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref> The public stood "ten deep" in parts of nearby Broad Street as the funeral corteges passed. Soldiers served as ]s.<ref name="Chester" /> The girls were buried at ],<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> but the precise location of their graves is lost. | ||
| == Inquest == | == Inquest == | ||
| Line 21: | Line 20: | ||
| The subsequent inquest heard conflicting claims. Faith Mailes, the concert organiser, whose daughter died, said that she had seen a smoker, backstage, discard a match.<ref name="Chester" /> Theatre staff and others present denied that anyone had been smoking.<ref name="Chester" /> Verdicts of accidental death were returned.<ref name="Chester" /> | The subsequent inquest heard conflicting claims. Faith Mailes, the concert organiser, whose daughter died, said that she had seen a smoker, backstage, discard a match.<ref name="Chester" /> Theatre staff and others present denied that anyone had been smoking.<ref name="Chester" /> Verdicts of accidental death were returned.<ref name="Chester" /> | ||
| == |
== Funerals and legacy == | ||
| ⚫ | A joint funeral for five of the victims was held at ].<ref name="Chester" /><ref name="BBC-p01qmn7v">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qmn7v|title=World War One At Home, Garrick House, Hereford: Tragic End to a Fundraiser|date=27 January 2014|work=]|accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref> The public stood "ten deep" in parts of nearby Broad Street as the funeral corteges passed. Soldiers served as ]s.<ref name="Chester" /> The girls were buried at ],<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> but the precise location of their graves is lost. | ||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | At a meeting held in ] in September 1916, it was decided to raise £500 with which to endow a memorial cot on the Children's Ward of ] (since demolished).<ref name="Chester" /> That target was exceeded, and the cot was unveiled there, together with a memorial plaque, in April 1917.<ref name="Chester" /><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d3ogAQAAIAAJ&q=garrick+theatre+fire+hereford|title=The Story of Herefordshire's Hospitals|first=Charles|last=Renton|pages=61–62|year=1999|publisher=Logaston Press|isbn=1873827210}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | The theatre was rebuilt later in 1916, but subsequently demolished.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> Another ], mentioning the fire, marks its former location, on Widemarsh Street.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /><ref name="BBC-p01qmn7v" /> | ||
| ⚫ | At a meeting held in Hereford |
||
| Local residents campaigned for a "lasting memorial" near the site.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /><ref name="HT2016">{{cite web|title=Call for tribute to child victims who died in Hereford fire|url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14399084.Call_for_tribute_to_child_victims_who_died_in_Hereford_fire/|website=Hereford Times|accessdate=27 February 2018|language=en}}</ref> This campaign inspired Hereford Cathedral and architect Robert Kilgour to commission a ], cast in ]. The commission was accepted by Carey Lead Ltd. and installation was carried out on 15 March 2018. The plaque is on permanent display below the SAS memorial window in the cathedral's Lady Arbour Cloister.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Ian|title=Moving service held for children who died in Garrick Theatre fire|url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/16167413.Moving_service_held_for_children_who_died_in_Garrick_Theatre_fire/|accessdate=29 April 2018|work=The Hereford Times}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | The theatre was rebuilt later in 1916, but subsequently demolished.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /> Another ], mentioning the fire, marks its former location, on Widemarsh Street.<ref name="BBC-26354428" /><ref name="BBC-p01qmn7v |
||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| Line 38: | Line 43: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:23, 4 July 2024
In 1916, at the Garrick Theatre in Hereford, England, eight child performers were killed by a fire during a fund-raising concert. One of the group's costumes caught light when they were leaving the stage.
Theatre
The theatre was built in 1882 and renamed in 1909 after David Garrick, the actor and theatrical manager, who was born in Hereford in 1717.
Concert
In 1916, during World War I, a fund-raising concert was held "for the benefit of the Herefords and Shropshires" (two local county regiments, the former being the Herefordshire Regiment, the latter the King's Shropshire Light Infantry) at the Garrick Theatre, Hereford. One of the turns was provided by more than forty local school-children, wearing snow maiden and Eskimo costumes made in part from cotton wool, even though its use was prohibited in theatres, due to the risk of fire.
As a group of 13 children were leaving the stage, one of their costumes caught fire: within moments, all 13 were alight.
By the end of the night, despite rescue efforts by members of the cast and audience, six children had died. Two more died subsequently from their burns.
Inquest
The subsequent inquest heard conflicting claims. Faith Mailes, the concert organiser, whose daughter died, said that she had seen a smoker, backstage, discard a match. Theatre staff and others present denied that anyone had been smoking. Verdicts of accidental death were returned.
Funerals and legacy
A joint funeral for five of the victims was held at Hereford Cathedral. The public stood "ten deep" in parts of nearby Broad Street as the funeral corteges passed. Soldiers served as pall-bearers. The girls were buried at Hereford Cemetery, but the precise location of their graves is lost.
At a meeting held in Hereford Town Hall in September 1916, it was decided to raise £500 with which to endow a memorial cot on the Children's Ward of Herefordshire General Hospital (since demolished). That target was exceeded, and the cot was unveiled there, together with a memorial plaque, in April 1917.
The theatre was rebuilt later in 1916, but subsequently demolished. Another plaque, mentioning the fire, marks its former location, on Widemarsh Street.
Local residents campaigned for a "lasting memorial" near the site. This campaign inspired Hereford Cathedral and architect Robert Kilgour to commission a memorial plaque, cast in lead. The commission was accepted by Carey Lead Ltd. and installation was carried out on 15 March 2018. The plaque is on permanent display below the SAS memorial window in the cathedral's Lady Arbour Cloister.
References
- Text on plaque; see photo
- ^ Chester, Jerry (24 February 2014). "World War One: Hereford theatre fire killed eight at fundraiser". BBC Online. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "Memorial call for WW1 Hereford theatre deaths". BBC Online. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ "World War One At Home, Garrick House, Hereford: Tragic End to a Fundraiser". BBC Online. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- Renton, Charles (1999). The Story of Herefordshire's Hospitals. Logaston Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 1873827210.
- "Call for tribute to child victims who died in Hereford fire". Hereford Times. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- Morris, Ian. "Moving service held for children who died in Garrick Theatre fire". The Hereford Times. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
External links
52°3.5340′N 2°42.9744′W / 52.0589000°N 2.7162400°W / 52.0589000; -2.7162400
Categories: