History
Newspaper Extract
Collapse of the Rother Viaduct
October, 1848The accident at the Rother Viaduct, was near the junction of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway with the Midland, at Beighton in October, 1848.
The viaduct was about a quarter of a mile in length, and was to consist of 36 arches, built on soft clayey ground.
Upwards of 20 arches had been completed, and the rest were in progress; heavy rains had, however, interfered with the work. The river had overflowed, and the water had found it's way into the foundations of the piers.
The piers sunk fourteen and a half inches since the commencement of the building, although measures were taken to support them, they were unfortunately unsuccessful.
The 20 arches fell in, killing two men on the spot, and so severely wounding another that he died shortly after. Two other men were severely injured.
The piers were left standing, but the brickwork of the fallen arches blocked up the River Rother, the countryside around was flooded to such an extent that the area was almost inaccessible.
Inquest
A Coroner's inquest was held at Beighton, Sheffield, on the bodies of three men, George Belcliffe, Henry Whiteman, and James Mott, who were killed by the falling of the Rother Viaduct.
Verdict
From the evidence of the engineers examined, it appeared that the foundations were insufficient, and the jury returned the following verdict:
That the deceased were killed by the falling of the Rother Viaduct, while in the course of construction, in consequence, it is believed by this jury, of the insufficiency of the foundation