The possibility of arson, perhaps for insurance, was raised but discounted and most theories later centred on a the likelihood of an electrical fault. In a research paper published later in the year, Glasgow’s Firemaster Martin Chadwick recalled how close the dear green place came to a “major disaster” that could have seen many dozens killed and a whole swathe of the city destroyed: “While expressing very deep regret at the loss of so many valuable officers and men, I am very conscious that in some measure we were fortunate that the loss of life was not even greater. As the 60th anniversary of the disaster approaches, I thought it appropriate to revisit the history of this tragic event which saw 19 members of the Glasgow Fire Service and the Glasgow Salvage Corps killed in an explosion at a bonded warehouse on Cheapside Street in the Anderston riverside area of the city. I said to myself ‘I’m going back.’ I turned and I started to walk back up, and as I came near the turntable ladder there were four firemen. Cheapside Street fire, Glasgow. Station Officer Peter McGill was actually inside the warehouse when the explosion came. photo © Adrian Welch, Buildings / photos for the Cheapside Street Architecture page welcome. A devastating explosion and fire in the whisky bond destroyed the building, its contents and adjacent buildings to the N., and caused serious damage to many other buildings in Cheapside Street and Warroch Street. Category On-line Digital Images. Providing quality care throughout central Scotland. Firefighters pay their respects to the men who lost their lives at the Cheapside Street disaster Today marks the anniversary of the Cheapside disaster that claimed the lives of 19 firefighters in Glasgow in 1960. “I ran around in the direction from which I had heard the cry for help, and I saw the turntable ladder was engulfed by masonry.”. The Cheapside Street project will be for the same clients. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? As the Fire Service responded, it became clear that the fire was turning into a major blaze and the call “make pumps five” went out from the chief officer on the scene at 7.21pm. I heard screams and then there was a sudden silence.”, Driver Bob Scouller of the Glasgow Salvage Corps, remembered a horrible sight: “The buildings seemed to make me sort of shiver a wee bit. Plumbers. READ MORE: Glasgow whisky bond fire that killed 19 people is remembered 60 years on An explosion inside the building caused its 60ft walls to crash down into Cheapside Street and Warroch Street. 55 CHEAPSIDE STREET. Cheapside Street Fire – 60 years since one of Britain's worst peacetime fire disasters The whisky bond blaze raged for a week and claimed the lives of 19 firefighters glasgowlive To this day, no one knows what caused the blaze. ‘I saw a turntable ladder that had been in the middle of the street being completely enveloped by tons of fallen bricks, masonry and dust. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. He completed his Architecture degree in 1992, attending Manchester University. Fireman William Watters received the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct. Cheapside Street Fire Disaster. Parking in Glasgow Park and Ride. Bravery and Courage of Firefighters. Cheapside Street fire, Glasgow. Get involved with the news in your community, This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. John Swanson recalled later: “There was a roar similar to thunder, and then a long ‘swish’ or ‘boom’ that caused me to look up and see what was happening. The British Empire Medal for Gallantry was awarded to sub-officer Charles Neeson, firemen George Alexander and John Nicholson, and PC James Gribben. Two “pumps” – the service name for fire engines – plus a turntable ladder and a fire boat, the St Mungo, arrived on the scene, joined by a tender and seven men of the Glasgow Salvage Corps. Cheapside Street 50 Years on . Yet there are some events which by their very nature should never be forgotten and later this month in Glasgow, a commemoration will take place of one such event – the Cheapside Street Fire Disaster of March 28, 1960. To me it wasn’t scary after that. The people of Glasgow and many other parts of Scotland responded to the tragedy by raising funds for the families of the bereaved. Cheapside St, Anderston Glasgow, Images, Development, Proposal, Property, Blocks, News, River Clyde building for Dandara – design by gm+ad architects, Scotland. The whisky barrels were falling out of the building and bursting into flames. “As it was, a large percentage of the crews making the initial response were involved in the explosion which affected both sides of the building simultaneously and the 19 personnel who we were killed were among those who arrived on the fire ground in the first 10 minutes. The Cheapside fire. Motorcycle parking is available in Cambridge Street and High Street car parks. Catalogue Number SC 587706. We provide staff on a temporary, permanent and contract basis to a wide range of clients within Health & Social Care Sector. Fourteen firefighters and five members of the Salvage Corps died tackling a blaze at a whisky bond in Cheapside Street, on 28 March 1960. Description Glasgow, 93 Cheapside Street, Houldsworth's Cotton Mill View from NW showing floor construction during demolition. There were still a dozen workers inside working overtime with a Customs Officer observing, so the possibility of a dropped cigarette or match was mentioned while clearly there had been some sort of leak from casks of whisky held upstairs. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. They could see the flames fanning out inside but were powerless to stop the spread. Find the travel option that best suits you. This fire was overshadowed only by a similar fire in James Watt Street (also in Glasgow) on 19 November 1968, when 22 people died. Slowly but surely the firefighters managed to get the fire under control. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Glasgow Architects Offices: Design Practices, Glasgow Walking Tours: Tour Guide for Walks. They were: Glasgow Fire Service Sub Officers James Calder and John McPherson and Firemen Christopher Boyle, Alexander Grassie, Edward McMillan, Ian McMillan, William Watson, John Allan, Gordon Chapman, William Crocket, Archibald Darroch, Daniel Davidson, Alfred Dickinson and George McIntyre, Glasgow Salvage Corps Deputy Salvage Officer, Superintendent Edward Murray, Leading Salvageman James McLellan and Salvagemen Gordon McMillan, James Mungall and William Oliver. George Medals went to Station Officer Peter McGill and fireman James Dunlop, the latter for rescuing a colleague from a collapsing turntable. Cheapside Street. Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop Architects have been appointed for the detailed design of a mixed development of two city blocks centred on Cheapside Street in Glasgow. The men died in an explosion as they fought a blaze at a whisky warehouse. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. This devastating blaze at a whisky warehouse was one of the worst peacetime fires in British history: 19 members of the fire brigade and salvage corps were killed. This was now a conflagration almost out of control, and the firefighters had to leave the bodies of their dead colleagues under the rubble, knowing that no one could have survived the collapse of the wall. The warehouse was about 400ft by 110ft and was on several levels as it had been concocted from different buildings. In the middle of the night, tens of thousands of people in the city and beyond got out of their beds to watch the blaze lighting up the sky over Glasgow, with the smell of burnt sugar and spirits could be sensed many miles downwind. Date 9/5/1966. Find average house prices, current average values and other historic property data with the … It is a high profile commission for one of the city’s most important and strategic sites, on the north bank of the Clyde immediately west of the Kingston Bridge. They were trying to get into a grill in a window and were hammering away with their little axes. Yet there are some events which by their very nature should never be forgotten and later this month in Glasgow, a commemoration will take place of one such event – the Cheapside Street Fire Disaster of March 28, 1960. Of the 19 dead, 18 were married and in total they had 13 children. The fire at a whisky bond killed 14 fire service and 5 salvage corps personnel. Police seized the huge haul of Class B drugs, which have an estimated street value of £1.4m, on Cheapside Street on Monday February 4 after a tip off from a member of the public. The first 999 call was received by the Fire Service just before 7.15pm and within three minutes, the fire service was on the scene. The area containing Cheapside Street, Glasgow, Scotland consists predominantly of flats, which is common in inner cities, student neighbourhoods and poorer suburban settings. 14 members of Glasgow Fire Service died and 5 members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps also died. Bank holiday hours and tariffs: Open at standard Weekday times and tariffs. Find parking in Cheapside St, with access to an unrivalled choice of the best spaces. Cheapside Streetin viskivaraston palo tapahtui 28. maaliskuuta 1960, kun Glasgow’n Cheapside Streetillä sijainneessa viskin säilytykseen käytetyssä tullivarastossa syttyi tulipalo noin kello 19.10. The explosion was followed by a blaze almost unprecedented in its ferocity. By chance, Princess Margaret was in the city for an engagement and she was visibly shocked when she went to visit the scene. Fourteen firefighters and five members of the Salvage Corps died while tackling a fire at the Arbuckle, Smith and Company … READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: British nationalism's bankruptcy is all around us. Trusted by over 3 million drivers across the UK. View prices, availability and restrictions for on-street and off-street options, from public car parks to private driveways - or reserve a guaranteed space in advance. Adrian Welch was born in Kincardineshire, Scotland and attended school in Scotland. Capitalism will survive the coronavirus crisis. People in a crowd estimated to be 20,000 strong stood five deep behind the firefighters who lined the route. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here. View on map. There were many awards for bravery. Blaze heroes will never be forgotten. Fraser of Allander Institute dismisses Scotland-Ireland tunnel, Royal Society of Arts calls for training amid automation rise. Expiry times: "All Day" expires at 23:59 for the day applicable gm+ad Cheapside St Glasgow – Building images / information 30 Nov 2005, Glasgow Transport Museum READ MORE: Fraser of Allander Institute dismisses Scotland-Ireland tunnel. Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Preservation Group (now Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Heritage Trust) were delighted to be asked to visit St. Patricks and the Anderston Primary Schools in Glasgow as part of the Cheapside Project.. We put things aside and got on with the job. The cheapest way to get from Glasgow Queen Street to Cheapside Street whisky bond fire costs only £1, and the quickest way takes just 4 mins. I have heard a clever definition of history – something that’s old enough to have been forgotten. Whilst engaged in a protracted and very serious fire in a whisky storage warehouse, a sudden and massive explosion occurred resulting in the instantaneous deaths of fourteen Firefighters of the Glasgow Fire Service and five members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps. The Cheapside Street whisky bond fire in Glasgow on 28 March 1960 was Britain's worst peacetime fire services disaster. The last body was not recovered from the scene until three days after the fire. The men who lost their lives on that dreadful night ranged in age from 24 to 54. Building images from gm+ad architects 2006: Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop Architects have been appointed for the detailed design of a mixed development of two city blocks centred on Cheapside Street in Glasgow. Noone knows the cause of the blaze at the Arbuckle and Smith whisky warehouse on March 28, 1960. 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