Accident at Hanging Bridge, Mayfield

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Date:February 1921

Description:Members of the public looking at the aftermath of an accident where a lorry carrying boxes of lard had crashed through the parapet of Hanging Bridge over the River Dove at Mayfield.

At around 4.00pm on 15 February 1921 a Maudslay 4-ton lorry belonging to the Enterprise Motor Company of Birmingham carrying a full load of lard was travelling between Stockport and Leicester. The driver was Ernest Knott of Bordesley, Birmingham and he had just picked up a passenger, William White, of no fixed abode, when his brakes failed coming down Swinscoe Hill. He swerved to avoid Arthur Moore of Mayfield who was crossing the bridge with his pony and dray. The lorry swerved across the road, clipped the dray, completely destroying it, and then crashed through the wall into a garden 20 feet below. The driver, passenger and Mr Moore were treated at Ashbourne Cottage Hospital for cuts and bruises but otherwise had a lucky escape from serious injury or worse. The lorry was severely damaged but a good deal of the lard, manufactured by John Morrell & Co. of Chicago, Illinois was saved.

The photograph was taken by Charles Moscrop of Mayfield and published by Thomas Illingworth's T.I.C. 'Horsehoe' brand.

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Image courtesy of: The Roy Lewis Postcard Collection

Donor ref:Roy Lewis-365 (240/47506)

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