TRIBUTES have been paid to victims of a Victorian tragedy which shocked the world.
Wearsiders were left mourning a lost generation after 183 children – some as young as five – were crushed to death during a stampede for free toys at Sunderland’s Victoria Hall in 1883.
A memorial to those who perished was erected at Mowbray Park in the months following the disaster, and this week youngsters from Thorney Close Primary laid a floral tribute at the site.
“Although it is possible to learn some basic concepts within the classroom, there is no substitute for learning through experience. It makes history come alive,” said teacher Rachel Chedzoy.
“Not only did the visit develop the children’s knowledge of the Victorians, but it also gave them the opportunity to build a passion for their local area, and the history surrounding it.”
The visit to the Victoria Hall memorial was organised by the Leaning Team based at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, to help the Year 5 students take a closer look at the city’s past.
The children dressed in Victorian attire – with the girls wearing pinafores and mop caps and the boys in caps, ties and waistcoats – before laying the flowers of remembrance.
“Mowbray Park is full of stories, both good and tragic, about the history of Sunderland, particularly during the Victorian boom years,” said learning officer Jennie Lambert.
“The museum staff are helping the children to unlock these stories and to feel that sense of wonder, surprise and pride in their local area.”
The visit by The Fays, of Tynemouth Aquarium, to the Victoria Hall on June 16, 1883, was billed as ‘The Greatest Treat for Children Ever Given.’ Instead, it was to turn into a nightmare.
For the offer of free toys sent dozens of children racing from their seats in the gallery towards the stage. Tragically, a door at the bottom of the stairs had been bolted only slightly ajar.
Within seconds, the narrow gap was choked. “Children tumbled head over heels, one on top of the other. Shrieks and screams vibrated through the staircase,” reported the Echo.
“The heap of writhing humanity became higher and higher, until it became a mass of struggling and dying children over six feet in height.”
Many Wearsiders lost two or more children, and all 30 from a Sunday School party died. But no-one was ever blamed for bolting the door – despite two inquests.
“The disaster sent a tremor of horror across the world, for it had never known such a tragedy,” said local historian Carol Roberton, who campaigned to have the memorial returned to Mowbray Park.
“The tragedy did, however, prompt the passing of legislation to provide doors which opened outwards at all places of public entertainment. A law which still continues to this day.”
The Thorney Close youngsters were allowed to examine original documents relating to the disaster, including newspaper reports, inquest evidence, photos and etchings, as part of their school visit.
But one of the most poignant relics of the tragedy can be viewed by all visitors to the museum – a toy rocking horse which had its front legs torn off in the fatal panic for prizes.
“It was given to Emily Steel, of Gray Road , Sunderland, on the day of the disaster, but a boy grabbed it and got away with the front legs and rockers,” said Jennie.
Schools interested in finding out more about museum activities should contact the Learning Team by email at learning@sunderlandmuseum.org.uk or call 553 2323.
Sidebar: Victoria Hall facts
The hall was designed by architect G.G. Hoskins, with financial backing from the Backhouse family, and opened on January 8, 1872.
Performer Alexander Fay continued touring after the disaster, but is believed to have never again taken part in a similar Saturday afternoon event for children.
It is believed that “poverty overtook Fay” – according to The World’s Fair magazine, and he eventually died in a workhouse in Leeds.
The Victoria Hall hosted the first moving picture shows in Sunderland in 1901, offering people a look at ‘moving magic.’
Sunderland Corporation bought the hall for £8,000 and spent £30,000 enlarging the theatre. It re-opened on November 7, 1906, playing host to dozens of stars over the decades.
It was the scene of many political campaigns, including a three-night debate between Echo founder Samuel Storey and Mr J.M. Robertson on tariff reform versus free trade.
Winston Churchill spoke at the hall in 1920, when he told the audience; “Labour is not fit to govern at this time.” Asquith, Baldwin and Lord Halifax also appeared there.
Edward Elgar and the Halle Orchestra were among the top draws for musical concerts.
Howard Holt, Melba, Pachmann, Backhaus, Madam Patti, Albert Sammons, Bratza, Henry Baynton, Owen Nares, Sidney Fairbrother and Rosaline Courtneidge appeared there too.
The Victoria Hall had been dubbed a ‘white elephant’ by the time it was bombed during World War Two.
Sidebar: The victims of the Victoria Hall disaster
Margaret G Adams, (10), Parade Street
Charles John Algren, (8), Parade Street
Margaret G Adams (10), Parade Street
Charles John Algren (8), Parade Street
Michael Allan, (5), North Bridge Street
Margaret Cook Allan,(7), North Bridge Street
George F Anderson, (7), Brougham Street
Jane Athey, (9), Wayman Street
Ruth Athey, (11), Wayman Street
Thomas Bailey, (8), East Street
James Beale, (8), Ford Street
Isabella Bell, (7), Norman Street
James Bell, (6), Pemberton Street
William George Bell, (8), Bridge Street
Barbara Blakey, (10), Page Street
William Bland, (10), Hedley Street
Robert W Booth, (9), St Lukes Terrace
Newrick Briggs, (4), Blandford Street
William James Briggs, (9), Blandford Street
John William Brodie, (8), Buxton Street
Emily Browell, (9), Gilsland Street
Margaret Ellen Brown, (12), D’Arcy Street
Margaret Brown, (4), Lisburne Terrace
Dorothy B Buglass, (3), Thornton Place
Thomas Butler, (9), Thompson Street
Charles Henry Carr (8), Trinity Place
Sarah Jane Chandler, (7), Wilson Street
Thomas H Chandler, (10), Wilson Street
Barker Ramsay Cogdon, (8), Flag Lane
Mary Jane Conlin, (10), Burleigh Street
George H Coulson, (8), Watson Lane
Andrew Coupland, (10), Queen Street
John Curry, (8), Back Whitburn Street
Alfred David Curtin, (5), Clanney Street
James Fred Curtin, (9), Clanney Street
John C Davison, (6), High Street
Martin H Davison, (8), Tweed Street
Rosanna Davison, (6), Thomas Street
Charles Dixon, (7), Willow Pond Terrace
John Edward Dixon, (7), Howick Street
Charles Foster Dodds, (6), Victor Street
Mary Downey, (7), Back Sussex Street
Charles Dring, (8), Roker Avenue
John Robert Dring, (11), Dock Street East
Elva Dumble, (7), St Mark’s Road
Mary Ann Duncan, (11), William Street
Thomas H Dunn, (9), Colliery Row
Elizabeth Watt Elliott, (8), Burleigh Street
James Oliver Elliott, (10), Burleigh Street
Charles Evans, (9), Thompson Street
John George Evans, (11), Thompson Street
James Fairgreave, (10), Brougham Street
Peter Fairgreave, (7), Brougham Street
Kate Falley, (9), Cornhill Road
Cuthbert M Fenwick, (6), High Street West
John Fenwick, (7), Wear Street
Thomas W Fleming, (8), Vine Street
George Fox, (6), Gilsland Street
Robert Fox, (9), Gilsland Street
William Fox, (4), Chester Terrace North
John G Gibson, (11), Tower Street
John R Gillies, (5), Dame Dorothy Street
Fred W Graham, (11), Bramwell Street
Thomas Graham, (7), New Grey Street
John Thomas Greener, (7), Eglinton Street
Robert Henry Grey, (7), Hawthorn Street
Mary Ann Hall, (8), Deptford Road
Thomas Hall, (8), Alexandra Terrace
Eliza Halliman, (8), Grey’s Buildings
Thomas Harrison, (9), Abbs Street
James Hayhurst, (7), High Street West
Cicely Henderson, (11), Hopper Street
James Henderson, (10), Hopper Street
Joseph Henderson, (9), Nicholson Street
Margaret Henderson, Jane, (7), Hopper Street
Richard Henderson, (7), Nicholson Street
Robert P Hilton, (6), Emma Street
Eveline Hines, (6), Booth Street
William Arthur Hines, (8), Booth Street
Robert Hall Hogg, (8), Harrison Street East
John Howard, (7), Pemberton Street
Thomas Edward Hughes, (5), Swinbank Street
Thomas Hughes, (7), Clanney Street
Laura V Hutchinson, (6), Hendon Road
Thomas Jefferson, (9), Gosforth Street
R Jewitt, (10), Foyle Street
William Johnson, (10), Pickard Street
William Kelty, (10), Dock Street East
William Kemp, (7), Henry Street East
A Edward Kirby, (10), D’Arcy Terrace
Elizabeth Kirton, (9), Carr’s Yard
George W Knox, (9), Brougham Street
Johnson Lackenby, (4), Queen Street
Charles H Lane, (10), Clanney Street
James W Lane, (6), Clanney Street
Isabella Lawrence, (7), Addison Street
John Lawrence, (5), Addison Street
Edward Liddle, (8), Burlington Road
William S Longstaff, (7), Coatesworth Street
Kate McCann, (8), Silver Street
John William McKeever, (5), Society Lane
Nellie Maconkie, (10), Christopher Street
Fred Maddison, (5), Kingsley Street
Sarah Maddison, (5), Kingsley Street
John Marley, (5), Tees Street
James Meek, (8), Villiers Street
Hannah I Milburn, (9), Alderson Street
Charles Miles, (9), Catherine Street
Emily Miller, (9), Gilsland Street
William Miller, (8), Burlington Road
Alice P Mills, (10), Ann Street
Elizabeth A Mills, (12), Ann Street
Frederick Mills, (8), Ann Street
Richard Mills, (6), Ann Street
Emily Morris, (7), Glebe Cleft Villas
John Morrison, (7), Richmond Street
Jane Muse, (6), Biss Street
Catherine Newton, (9), Carter Street
George Stokeld Nipper, (9), Howick Square
John Waller Noble, (11), Winchester Terrace
Margaret Orrock, (12), Covent Garden Street
Mary Paget, (10), Lisburn Terrace
Edward Paley, (6), Garden Place
Alfred Patterson, (7), Matlock Street
Louis A Paxton, (8), Dunning Street
Ann Marie Peace, (7), West Stanley Street
William Pearey, (9), Bright Street
Mary Eleanor Pescod, (8), Burleigh Street
William Henry Pescod, (10), Burleigh Street
Emmerson Phillipson, (11), Dame Dorothy Street
Ann M Pringle, (9), Southwick Road
Maggie Pringle, (7), Southwick Road
George Prior, (12), Kingsley Street
John T Proudfoot, (8), Burleigh Street
Robert Ramsey, (11), Covent Garden Street
Annie Redmond, (14), Booth Street
Catherine Richmond, (7), Grey’s Buildings
Thomas C Ritson, (9), Mordey Street
Annie Patteson Robertson, (10), High Street East
Ethel Robertson, (7), High Street East
Eleanor Robson, (6), Tyne Street
Margaret Roper, (8), East Cross Street
Elizabeth Rowell, (7), Gladstone Street
Mary Helen Russell, (6), Lawrence Street
William Rutherford, (8), John Candlish Road
James H Scott, (10), Vine Street
Eugenie Scrafton, (8), Handel Street
Walter G Shipley, (10), Griffin’s Buildings
Abraham Simey, (8), Silver Street
William Simpson, (7), Sans Close
George Sleightam, (8), Hendon Street
William Sleightam, (6), Hendon Street
Carrie Smith, (5), Northumberland Street
Elizabeth Snaith, (8), Fowler Terrace
George Snaith, (8), East Street
Tiney Solomon, (9), Henry Street
Thomas Southern, (8), Catherine Street
Joseph Spence, (10), Howick Street
John Thomas Swinney, (6), George Street
John James Taylor, (6), Coatesworth Street
Margaret Ann Thompson, (6), Norman Street
Margaret Thompson, (3), Palmer Street
Mary Ann Thompson, (11), Palmer Street
Annie M Tomlinson, (4), South Durham Street
Ada Ann Topin, (11), Emma Street
Nora Topin, (6), Emma Street
Thomas Toward, (9), Coatesworth Street
Margaret A Turnbull, (8), Norman Street
John George Thomas Venus, (7), Eglinton Street
Grace Newton Vowell, (8), Norfolk Street
Lilly Vowell, (4), Norfolk Street
Elizabeth Wanless, (7), Dock Street
Florence Edith Ward, (6), Back Charles Street
Amy C L Watson, (13), Wayman Street
Annie Emily C Watson, (10), Wayman Street
R C Watson, (12), Wayman Street
William R Weighill, (8), Vine Cottage
Robert Wilkinson, (7), Addison Street
John Henry Willan, (11), Zetland Street
John Robert Williamson, (11), Johnson Street
John James Wise, (10), Moor Street
Andrew Wright, (7), Bright Street
Mary Wright, (5), Willow Pond Inn
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