Town's 'guncotton explosion' recalled on anniversary

It was said the explosion was so big it lifted a farm barn off the ground

An explosion that wiped out half a town and killed dozens of people more than 150 years ago is being remembered.

Known as the "guncotton explosion", a build-up of vapours from chemically soaked cotton is thought to have caused the blast in Stowmarket, Suffolk, on 11 August 1871.

Twenty-eight people were killed, including children, and more than 70 were left injured. The explosion was heard as far away as the coast.

Darren Dordoy, chair of the Stowmarket Local History Group, said: "There wouldn't have been anybody in the whole town that hadn't been affected in some way, shape or form."

Mr Dordoy said the explosion was "violent".

"So loud was this explosion it was heard 32 miles away in Southwold... such a violent explosion also... it lifted the farm barn up in the air and dropped it back down.

"When they investigated it later, it took an acre-and-a-half of barley out of the plant - the stalks were still standing, but the whole of the barley was gone."

The effects of the explosion remain in the town. He said St Mary's Church in Combs has clear glass in some former stained glass windows because it had never been replaced.

Darren Dordoy said the effects of the blast still remained in the town

The Prentice Brothers' factory made chemical fertiliser and later ventured into a new, explosive guncotton, which was used as a replacement for gunpowder.

Mr Dordoy said the cotton was soaked in nitric and sulphuric acids, which should be rinsed to remove the excess and dried before being packed into boxes.

However, on the day of the explosion, it was believed the cotton was not dry and on the hot day of 11 August 1871, chemical vapours built up in the boxes.

"When they went to move it, it should be perfectly safe to move... that build-up with chemicals and sudden movement is what they think caused the explosion," he said.

"A lot of families lost their main breadwinners."

The town rallied round and put money towards people who had no income, before putting a memorial in place.

"Humanity steps up to the plate," he said.

"The biggest thing about Stowmarket is the people that live in it. The heart of the communities of residents that have lived in the town for hundreds of years."