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  • Short Summary

    A massive explosion in a chemical factory in Mitcham devastates nearby houses.

  • Description

    Full title reads: "Mitcham. Like 'No Man's Land'. All South London shaken - every house in 3 streets wrecked - in great chemical factory explosion."

    Mitcham, Surrey / Greater London.

    Pan across wrecked building of chemical factory. Various shots of the rubble and wreckage of the explosion.

    Various shots of nearby houses destroyed in the explosion. People walk about in the wreckage. Shots of houses in a terrace - all the roofs have been blown off. People are gathered in the street. Pan along rooftops. Shots of people loading their belongings into lorries.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    703.04
    Media URN:
    6092
    Group:
    Pathe newsreels
    Archive:
    British Pathé
    Issue Date:
    03/04/1933
    Sound:
    Mute
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Black & White
    Duration:
    00:01:46:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:05:37:00 / 01:07:23:00
    Canister:
    33/27

Comments (1)

  1. WadeMitcham says

    The factory that exploded was W.J. Bush's lavender distillery in Batsworth Road, Mitcham. A broken bolt in a vat containing 1,000 gallons of boiling methylated spirits was identified as the cause of the explosion, which happened at 7.am. on 30th March 1933. One person was killed, a 12 year old boy. The houses in Belgrave Road, which was next to the factory, were badly damaged and up to 200 people were made homeless. Adjacent streets of Bath Road and Queen's Road were also damaged.

    Source: Mitcham News & Mercury, 28th April 1933.

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