SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

The following are from John Mayhall’s ‘Annals of Yorkshire’ volume 1.September 4 1858. "A fearful boiler explosion took place at the mill of Mr. Samuel Almond, woollen manufacturer, Gildersome, near Leeds, which resulted in the death of John Bradley, aged 18, the fireman, George Woffington, a boy of 14 years, Samuel Halliday, aged 22, Alice Wright, aged 21, and Caroline Gregson, besides serious injury to several other persons. The explosion was caused by the carelessness of a boy in allowing the boiler to become red-hot, and then turning cold water in to cool it”.That item at least sadly brings home the dangers then and also that young people were working. It is of interest that the boy is not named.September 4 1858. “The mayor of Leeds, (Peter Fairbairn, Esq.) munificently presented to the corporation a splendid and admirable statue of the Queen, by Noble the sculptor. It is erected in the vestibule of the Town-hall. The statue is colossal, being eight feet six inches high, and is made of a block of Carrara marble of the very finest quality, spotless and pure. In front of the pedestal is the simple inscription “Queen Victoria, 1858”. It cost the mayor a thousand guineas”.According to an inflation calculator in the Bank of England website 1000 guineas (£1050 if my maths is right!) is equivalent to about £107,054 in 2011 at an average inflation rate of 3% a year, so the mayor forked out a lot of money! Queen Victoria visited Leeds on September 6-7 1858, during which she inaugurated the Town Hall.    

The Leeds mercury report did state the boys name, George Woffington, a boy of 14 years. the scene seems to have been pretty gorey, Bradley, who was blamed for the inceident, had bits of skull and brains scattered around a field. the main damage was caused by the chimney falling onto the weaving shop, this causing two of the casualties

chemimike wrote: The Leeds mercury report did state the boys name, George Woffington, a boy of 14 years. the scene seems to have been pretty gorey, Bradley, who was blamed for the inceident, had bits of skull and brains scattered around a field. the main damage was caused by the chimney falling onto the weaving shop, this causing two of the casualties Thanks for that clarification chemimike, which is appreciated. When I read the report in the 'Annals' I took it to mean the fireman was George Woffington and that there was an unnamed boy aged 14.