29 January 2008
50th anniversary of the Poultry Market fire
A service took place last Tuesday morning (23 January) in
respect of the two brave firemen who lost their lives and the
approx. 1,000 fire fighters from 58 London fire stations who fought
the Poultry Market fire on 23 January 1958.
Traders and workers at the City of London Corporation’s
Smithfield Market, including some who witnessed the fire,
which raged for four days 50 years ago, gathered at the service
along with more than 20 officers from the Fire Brigade.
Superintendent of the Smithfield Market Robert Wilson said: ‘We
are gathered here today to honour and remember the bravery of
Station Officer Jack Fourt-Wells and Fire Officer Richard Stocking
and the fact that they fearlessly gave their lives to save
others.
‘We acknowledge their sacrifice and salute all Fire Brigade
officers involved in this tragic event.’
Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association Deputy Chairman, Mark
Twogood said: ‘The dedication shown by all those firemen involved
in fighting the fire in this Market in 1958 epitomises the service
which Londoners know the Fire Brigade is ready to deliver every
day.’
Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Brigade Roy Bishop said “This is
a landmark fire in the history of London and its Fire Brigade. It
is important that we remember this tragic fire and honour the
memory of the two London fire-fighters who lost their lives.”
Valuable lessons were learnt from this tragic Poultry Market
fire. A tally system was introduced as a result which meant that a
record was kept of exactly where the fire officers were and the
time they went into the building so that the co-ordinator could
recall them when their oxygen ran low and, in the event of a
problem, knew where to locate the officer. These procedures
were tested to the limit at the Kings Cross fire in 1987.
Ends
Notes to editors
The present day Poultry Market is a replacement building which
was opened in 1963. It is a 1960’s futuristic building with a
green-domed roof which for a long time was the largest unsupported
domed roof in Europe and has recently been given a Grade 2 listing
by English Heritage for this reason.
The Poultry Market continues to trade to this day, however due
to the relocation of many tenants into the newly-refurbished East
and West Markets there are at present only a handful of tenants
trading from the building.
Press Enquiries: Loretta Lui 020 7332 1528