Accident at the Mill, Great Haywood

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Date:March 1905

Description:This postcard view shows the fire brigade and local people draining the mill pond by using steam powered fire engines to lower the level of the water. In the foreground men are working Shugborough Hall's manual fire engine.

In March 1905 Mrs Challenor, the wife of the Town Clerk of Hanley, and her niece, were being driven across the bridge at Great Haywood Mill when their car plunged into the mill pond. The chauffeur and Mrs Challenor survived, but Mrs Challenor's niece could not be found.

The pond was dragged and divers from the Manchester Ship Canal were brought in, but without success. Eventually the mill pond was pumped dry, but the body was recovered downstream three weeks later.

After the accident the road was straightened and a new bridge was built.

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Image courtesy of: The Arthur Lloyd Collection

Donor ref:A Lloyd-122a (232/40082)

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