Collection GB 0074 COR/PA - CORONERS RECORDS OF PRINCESS ALICE INQUEST

1 linear metres

GB 0074 COR/PA 1878-1966 Collection 1 linear metres Coroner for the Jurisdiction of the Eastern District of the County of London

The PRINCESS ALICE was a paddle steamer owned by the London Steamboat Company. On September 3 1878 she was on the return leg of a routine trip from London Bridge to Gravesend. At 7:40 pm she was in sight of North Woolwich Pier, off Tripcock Point, Plumstead Marshes. The steamship BYWELL CASTLE, a cargo ship which usually took coals to Africa and was on its way to collect a fresh cargo, was also in this area. The Captain of the BYWELL CASTLE was following traditional navigation rules rather than an 1872 ruling that oncoming vessels should be passed on the port side. The captains of both ships realised there was a problem and attempted to change course, however, their course changes only brought them closer and the ships collided. The PRINCESS ALICE was much smaller than the BYWELL CASTLE and was split in two by the collision, sinking in just 4 minutes. Passengers were either trapped on the ship or thrown into the river. Around 600 people died, many of whom were never identified and were buried in a mass grave in Woolwich Old Cemetery.

Deposited by Mr W R H Heddy, MRCS, LRCP, DPH, in August 1965.

Records relating to the inquest on the victims of the wreck of the steamship "Princess Alice", 1878-1966. Records include inquisition giving names, ages, relationship and occupations of deceased; sworn statements of witnesses; verbatim report of inquest proceedings at Town Hall, Woolwich; indexes of witnesses; list of persons saved from the "Princess Alice"; correspondence; report of the Board of Trade investigation into the wreck of the "Princess Alice"; supporting documentation including maps of the area and navigation regulations.

Also items relating to the disaster including memorial cards, songs, press cuttings and notes made by Gavin Thurston in preparation for his book The Great Thames Disaster.

COR/PA/1 - COR/PA/47

Available for general access.

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further information see Gavin Thurston The Great Thames Disaster (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1965), LMA Library reference 27.45 THU.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

November 2009 to February 2010 Coroner for the Jurisdiction of the Eastern District of the County of London Princess Alice , steamship Disasters (events) Thurston , Gavin , fl 1958-1976 , author Documents Coroners records Primary documents Coroners inquisitions People People by occupation Personnel Legal profession personnel Legal history Coroners Legal systems Law Courts Coroners courts Manmade disasters Information sources Records (documents) Records and correspondence Court records Transport Vehicles Vessels Boats Steamboats Paddle steamers Administration of justice Legal procedure Judicial review Inquests Disasters Accidents Seaborne disasters Shipwrecks Plumstead Marshes Greenwich London England UK Western Europe Europe Thames, river Woolwich

Deposited by Mr W R H Heddy, MRCS, LRCP, DPH, in August 1965.

Records relating to the inquest on the victims of the wreck of the steamship "Princess Alice", 1878-1966. Records include inquisition giving names, ages, relationship and occupations of deceased; sworn statements of witnesses; verbatim report of inquest proceedings at Town Hall, Woolwich; indexes of witnesses; list of persons saved from the "Princess Alice"; correspondence; report of the Board of Trade investigation into the wreck of the "Princess Alice"; supporting documentation including maps of the area and navigation regulations.

Also items relating to the disaster including memorial cards, songs, press cuttings and notes made by Gavin Thurston in preparation for his book The Great Thames Disaster.

COR/PA/1 - COR/PA/47

Available for general access.

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.

• anglais

• latin

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais