London Beer Flood

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The London Beer Flood occurred on October 17, 1814 in the London parish of St. Giles in the United Kingdom. At the Meux and Company Brewery[1] on Tottenham Court Road[2][3], a huge vat containing over 135,000 gallons of beer ruptured, causing other vats in the same building to succumb in a domino effect. As a result, more than 323,000 gallons of beer burst out and gushed into the streets. The wave of beer destroyed two homes and crumbled the wall of the Tavistock Arms pub, trapping the barmaid under the rubble.[4]

The wave left 9 people dead: 8 due to drowning, one from alcohol poisoning.[1][2]

Because the wave hit a poor neighbourhood, survivors rushed to save as much of the drink as they could[citation needed]. It took weeks for the smell to subside. The brewery was eventually taken to court over the accident, but the disaster was ruled to be an "Act of God" by the judge and jury, leaving no one responsible.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  • Sometimes the disaster is inaccurately said to have occurred in 1816.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Beer flood at Warphead.com
  2. ^ a b Rennison, Nicholas (2 November 2006). The Book of Lists: London. Canongate Books Ltd. ISBN 9781841956763. 
  3. ^ Greenberg, Michael I.. Disaster!: A Compendium of Terrorist, Natural, and Man-made Catastrophes. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 156. ISBN 0763739898. 
  4. ^ London Beer Flood at Expages.com (archived version)

[edit] External links