The Stowmarket Guncotton Explosion, Industrial disaster site in Stowmarket, England.
The guncotton factory explosion created a crater measuring 100 feet in diameter and generated blasts that affected windows up to 30 miles from Stowmarket.
On August 11, 1871, two massive explosions at the Prentice Brothers' guncotton factory resulted in 28 deaths and approximately 70 injuries in Stowmarket.
The tragedy highlighted the dangerous working conditions of Victorian-era industrial facilities, where children as young as 12 worked in hazardous environments.
The memorial commemorating the victims of the explosion stands in Stowmarket Old Cemetery, maintained by the Town Council and accessible to visitors.
Five fire engines fought the blaze until midnight while rescue teams searched for missing persons in the River Gipping, where some victims were thrown by the blast.
Location: England
GPS coordinates: 52.18215,1.00833
Latest update: April 12, 2025 00:10
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