The Horse Shoe Brewery was the site of an unusual tragedy.
The Horseshoe Brewery, London, circa 1800.
One of the first sizeable vats were installed by Parsons St Katherines Brewery in 1736.
They were capable of holding 1,500 barrels each.
From then on, the vats continued to get bigger until 1,500-barrel vats became commonplace.
In 1790, Richard Meux built an enormous vat capable of holding 10,000 barrels.
It was 23 feet high and 60 feet in diameter.
On its inauguration, some 200 people sat down inside it to eat dinner.
It was 25 feet high, and 195 feet in circumference.
The vats at the Horse Shoe Brewery was no less impressive.
It was 22 feet tall and capable of holding 18,000 barrels.
The wooden planks were held together by large iron hoops, eighty tons in weight.
Depiction of a giant beer fermentation vat.
As bands slipped off the vats two or three times a year, the clerk was unconcerned.
He told his supervisor about the problem, but was told that no harm whatever would ensue.
A wave of porter beer 15 feet high swept into New Street, destroying houses and inundating basements.
The wave of beer swept the mother and the second child into the street, while Hannah was drowned.
In all, eight people were killed.
All of those killed were women and children.
19th century engraving of the event.
In addition, it received an aid of 7,250 as compensation for the barrels of lost beer.
The victims received nothing.
The following year, the brewery was demolished.
