Six Portsmouth dockyard workers killed by exploding boiler | Nostalgia

What looks like a spare part of consecrated ground in Kingston Cemetery is actually the communal grave site of six Portsmouth Dockyard men who were killed in April 1856 when a steam engine boiler exploded within the dockyard. They were all 33 or younger.
By Bob Hind
Published 18th Nov 2020, 15:51 BST
The site of the communal grave, this side of the white post, of six Portsmouth Dockyard men killed when a boiler exploded. Picture: Bob HindThe site of the communal grave, this side of the white post, of six Portsmouth Dockyard men killed when a boiler exploded. Picture: Bob Hind
The site of the communal grave, this side of the white post, of six Portsmouth Dockyard men killed when a boiler exploded. Picture: Bob Hind

They were among the first to be interred in what was Portsea (later Kingston) Cemetery.

Thanks to John Sadden’s book The Portsmouth Book of Days, in which I first found out about this disaster, and to Gerard O’Brien, the Portsmouth Cemetery Manager, who helped me find the site from records.

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The greater part of the red-hot boiler, which weighed a ton, was hurled 100ft in the explosion and then rebounded another 100ft towards the building slip.

A rare photograph of a train on the East Southsea branch line possibly approaching Jessie Road. Picture: Barry Cox postcard collection.A rare photograph of a train on the East Southsea branch line possibly approaching Jessie Road. Picture: Barry Cox postcard collection.
A rare photograph of a train on the East Southsea branch line possibly approaching Jessie Road. Picture: Barry Cox postcard collection.

The force of the explosion demolished the boiler shed, sending the roof flying 60ft into the air and burst the wall of an adjoining building.

The funerals were attended by an estimated 20,000 people. The men were all buried side by side, five on one day on April 13, 1856 and their colleague, John Field, a week later.

At one time there was a low chain fence around the site which disappeared a long time ago.

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Those who died were the aforementioned John Field, 29; William Pearman, 33; Robert Wright, 22; James Lee, 27; William Parrott, 25, and 26-year-old John Williams.

Is this photograph of The Empire cinema in East Street, Havant, your copyright? Please let me know.Is this photograph of The Empire cinema in East Street, Havant, your copyright? Please let me know.
Is this photograph of The Empire cinema in East Street, Havant, your copyright? Please let me know.

• The railway line from Fratton Station to Southsea (east Southsea) on the corner of Granada and Waverley Roads was called the East Southsea branch and it only existed for 29 years.

It opened on July 1,1885, and closed on August 8, 1914, because there were so few passengers.

The line passed under three bridges, at Jessie Road, Albert Road and another, just before the terminus in St Ronan’s Road in what is now Whitwell Road.

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In this photograph I believe the train is approaching Jessie Road.

In the background on the right are allotments and above the carriages, in the distance, is where Fratton Park would be built a few years later.

• I have received an email from Simon Bull who is trying to find out who has the copyright of this photograph of the Empire cinema at Havant.

Simon is writing a book about Havant Grammar School/College which he hopes to publish in the spring of next year.

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He wants use of the photograph so if you took the photo or you know who might have done, please let me know. Thank you.

The cinema stood in East Street, on the old A27, and was the only site for entertainment for miles around.

Related topics:Portsmouth

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