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“The Rising Sun Inn” - INTRODUCTION In the middle of a freezing, very foggy night on the 4th December 1957, a tremendous explosion occurred halfway up Box

Hill. Gas had escaped from a 12inch gas main and seeped through cavities in the ground until it reached a naked flame

somewhere in the Rising Sun Inn, a public house which was located on the valley side of the road. The licensee, his wife

and 4 year old son were killed when the building totally collapsed as a result of the explosion. Other occupants

miraculously escaped death.

No trace of the licensed premises exists today. A grassed area, a wooden bench and a bus shelter is what can be seen now.

The site was donated by the brewery to Box Parish Council who now maintain it as an area of leisure and a memorial to a

tragic incident that occurred 55 years ago. Update/correction January 2018. I have been asked to point out that the site

was/is OWNED by Wiltshire Council and was merely LEASED to Box Parish Council. The lease was recently handed

back to Wiltshire when it came up for renewal.

A parishioner asked me to place a short press report she had found from the period on to the parish website as a matter of

interest to its readers.

This prompted me to make a few enquiries which resulted in a trip to Bath library where I found a very full account of

the subsequent inquest on the three deaths which took place at the Guildhall, Bath on the 9th & 10th January 1958.

The enquiry was reported in great detail in the Bath & Wilts Chronicle & Herald newspaper on the 10th

and 11th of February 1958. Copies of the paper published at this time are archived at the library on microfiche. Such was

my interest that I photocopied the relevant frames on the film. Unfortunately, it would have been impossible for anyone

to read it except via the viewer in the library, so I decided to literally re-type every word onto a word processor. The

parishioner mentioned above also helped me in this task.

This report is now available to read. I have remained as faithful as possible to the original layout, but adapted it to the

modern paper size of A4. (The original newspaper was a ‘broadsheet’). I have put the text into two columns - to make it

look more like a newspaper. A couple of original ‘typos’ have been corrected and a few unreadable words that were

obliterated by folds in the original paper copies have been replaced by asterisks, but they don’t spoil the flow. I have

checked my work a number of times, but there may still be a few ‘typos’ of my own! This is not a ‘verbatim’ transcript

of the inquest - remember it is a newspaper report of it. It appeared over two days and in ‘multi-columns’. The reporter

obviously cherry-picked the witnesses and in a few places appears to be slightly out of sequence, but it does not spoil the

overall story.

To save paper and increase versatility I present the article as a sixteen page ‘PDF’ file. It is easily read on a computer and

for the adventurous, saved for future access and even loaded onto a ‘KINDLE’, iPAD or other reading device !

I have also included some photographs and additional information at the end of the newspaper report.

Very few people will remember this incident and I provide it as a matter of interest to those who like local history.

Mike Lyons Editor - Box Parish Website.

March 2013

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“NO ROVING ENQUIRY” ADVICE Coroner‟s Comments At Inquest On Box Explosion Victims.

At the outset of the inquest on the three victims of the Box explosion, which was opened at the Guildhall, Bath this morning, the Deputy City Coroner (Mr. J. B. Taylor) told the jury of 10 men that their job was not to hold a wide and roving inquiry, but merely to inquire where, how and by what means, each of the three persons came to their death. “And that includes”, continued the Coroner, “an enquiry as to whether the death of each of the three persons can be said by you to be accidental; due to criminal negligence – and if so, whose criminal negligence: thirdly, if from the evidence it is impossible to find out, you are not concerned with any question of civil liability”. The Coroner said he would be calling some 14 or 15 witnesses, and at the end the jury would be asked to return three verdicts, although the evidence would be taken together. “You know”, he added, “that the deaths occurred as a result of a very unfortunate explosion at Box. I don‟t pretend you have heard nothing about it before, but when you come to your decision you must come to it on the evidence which you have heard and not as a result of anything you may have heard outside”. “The evidence falls largely into three parts; evidence of identification; then comes the evidence of eye witnesses and the evidence of rescue workers; and thirdly, there is the technical evidence to be produced by employees and officers of the Gas Board.” The inquest was on William Graham Francis Cyril Griffin (45), licensee of the Rising Sun Inn, Box, (which was wrecked by the explosion), his wife Joyce Mary Victoria Griffin (42), and their son, Andrew Philip Griffin (4). All three died on December 4

th.

Solicitors appearing at the Coroner‟s court were Mr. Cecil A. Parker, (Wansborough and Co. Bristol), representing the S.W. Gas Board; Mr. John Littler (Cartwright, Taylor and Corpe, Bristol), representing Bristol Brewery - Georges and Co. Ltd., and a number of insurance companies; Mr. F. J. Brunskill (Delme, Radcliffe and Brunskill), representing the family and Mrs. Rogers, (Mrs. Griffin‟s sister); Cllr. Robert Campbell (Moger, Campbell and Co., Bath) representing Mrs. M. Carpenter and Mr. R.D. Barnett, whose property was damaged at the time of the explosion.

IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE Evidence of identification was given by Mr. Griffin‟s brother Mr. John Anthony Griffin, of Quarry Cottages,

Beer who said that all of the three persons enjoyed normal health. Dr. Pauline Haswell, Royal United Hospital, said all three were dead when admitted to hospital. Dr. Ronald L. Bishton, pathologist, Bath, said he carried out post-mortem examinations on William Griffin, who had severe burns. The skull was exposed on the left side front and injuries included multiple fractures of the skull. The cause of death was shock due to multiple injuries to the chest and skull. Replying to the Coroner, Dr. Bishton said that undoubtedly the fractures came before the burns and death must have been almost instantaneous.

TESTS He referred to carbon monoxide tests and said that it might be of some significance that Mr. Griffin had not been inhaling coal gas before he died. Witness said he had carried out a post-mortem on Mrs. Griffin. There were two splits at the back of the head, but internally no fracture of the skull. Injuries included fractures of the left collar bone and of 10 ribs on the right side, while there was a fracture dislocation of the spine high up in the back. Cause of death was shock due to multiple injuries to the chest, in which the doctor included the broken back. Carbon monoxide poisoning was 10 per cent which indicated, said witness, that Mrs. Griffin lived sufficiently long enough after her injuries to inhale a small amount. Referring to his post mortem examination on Andrew Griffin, Dr. Bishton described severe burns and said that the cause of death was shock due to burns. Test showed carbon monoxide saturation of 27 per cent. From both the nature of the injuries and because of the carbon monoxide, he (Dr. Bishton), came to the conclusion that Mr. Griffin died first, Mrs. Griffin second and Andrew third.

WATCH STILL GOING Asked by the foreman of the jury how long the little boy might have lived after the explosion, the pathologist said there was no way of deciding. He was probably unconscious because of the injuries. Replying to Cllr. Campbell, Dr. Bishton said Mrs. Griffin‟s wristlet watch was still going. “It was the correct time,” he added. When Mr. Parker said, “It would be fair to assume that

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none of these unfortunate persons would have known anything about it?” witness replied, “Yes”. Det. Sgt. Reginald Butler, Wilts Constabulary, said that at 9am on December 4

th, he took a series of

photographs of what was formerly the Rising Sun. He went again on December 5

th and took some more.

Witness produced an album of photographs. The Coroner commented that the photographs were “absolutely first-class””, considering the conditions at the time. Mr. William George Brice, chartered surveyor, of Clevedon – surveyor to the Bristol Brewery, Georges & Co. Ltd., produced a plan of the Rising Sun as it was on December 3

rd 1957.

HEARD EXPLOSION

P.C. J.J. Bosley, stationed at Box, said that on December 4

th he was awakened at about 4.30am by

an explosion. “I was unable to locate it at the time. I live about 1,200 yards from the Rising Sun,” he said. Witness said that at approximately 4.47am, he heard a car approaching his station. He hurried downstairs to his office and opened the door. Mr. Woodgate came in. “As a result of information he gave me I put through an emergency call and was connected to Bath City Fire Brigade.” Following that call, witness said at 4.49am he was connected to the Ambulance station at Bath. He made a call to his sectional office at Corsham and Divisional office at Chippenham. Then he put some clothes on and went out of the house.

THICK FOG He left on his Cyclemaster. There was very thick fog with visibility 20 yards at the most and the road was icy, making driving very dangerous. “As I climbed the hill a number of vehicles overtook me” added the constable who said that as he went up the hill the ice got worse and the fog lifted slightly. He arrived at the Rising Sun at about 5.05 am. I saw the road was completely blocked by debris. The Rising Sun was completely demolished apart from the skittles alley, debris being scattered on the bank on the opposite side of the road and even on top of telegraph wires, which were down. “Flames were leaping from what would have been the front of the Rising Sun, and also from the bank on the opposite side of the road.”

WALL OF FLAME P.C. Bosley added that from the nature of the flames he could tell they were gas flames. He said the fire brigade was in action, and rescue work had commenced. He saw Mr. Dancey and Mr. Barnet there. “I found civilians and fire officers in action, and these workers had to pass through a wall of flame.” The Coroner : “These gallant people doing this work had to go from the road into the flames into the rear?” – “Yes”. P.C. Bosley added that he had to go through the flame himself. He said that he learnt that Mrs. Griffin had been found and taken to the rear of the premises. “The flames were also working their way up the bank on the opposite side of the road – coming out of the ground”, added P.C. Bosley. He added that he went to three bungalows to ensure that the people were all right. The flames were approaching these bungalows. He contacted Inspr. Noble and a sergeant, who had arrived from the other direction. He returned to his station being the nearest place where a telephone was thought to be in order and phoned for assistance as it appeared to be a „major disaster‟.

TELEPHONED H.Q. P.C. Bosley said that on returning to his station, he rang the Superintendent of Police at Chippenham, who gave orders for men to come to the scene and carry out road blocks. P.C. Bosley said that he also dispatched the red lamps which he kept at the station. Then at 5.30am Inspr. Noble called at the station and he telephoned headquarters at Devizes and also Bath City police for the Civil Defence Rescue Unit. Witness said he also rang Dr. Davey of Box, and Mr. Tompkins, Divisional Road Surveyor, and after calling out the local roadmen he returned to the scene. The weather conditions had not got better. There was also drizzle and heavy, misty rain. “The water used on the fire was icing up all down the road as it made its way downhill” he said. P.C. Bosely said that he got back to the scene at 5.55am, made a check of the occupants of the Rising Sun, and established that two were unaccounted for – Mr. William Griffin and his son Andrew. Witness said that he learnt then that Mrs. Rogers and her two children and Jane Griffin had been moved from the debris alive. They were taken to Chippenham Hospital” he said. The Coroner : “How is the little girl getting on? Is she all right?” P.C. Bosley: “I understand – Yes”

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Witness said that by the time he arrived back everything was satisfactory, with the road blocks being put into operation and traffic being diverted. Asked by the Coroner about the arrival of Gas Board representatives, witness said that he understood a man and a woman had arrived at approximately 6.30am and later a gang arrived and commenced digging. P.C.. Bosley mentioned that the civilians helped, and they were a “very great credit” Witness said that he received orders at 6.30am to “evacuate everyone who were living within approximately 100 yards of the incident. After some time there was an explosion under Box Hill on the other side of the road. Just after 9am the main supply - being shut down, there was a heavy explosion under Mr. Carpenter‟s house, which was right opposite the Rising Sun. P.C. Bosley said that at about 8 o‟clock everyone involved in the rescue operations were ordered to be evacuated while attempts were being made to cut off the supply in the main pipe in order to reduce the flames. When it was being done, further explosions occurred. The Coroner : Was the cutting-off of the supply successful, and did the flames die out? - Yes Sir, but there were minor explosions which went on until about 12 noon. Later in the day, said witness, the roadway was cleared by the local authority and work commenced on opening up the gas mains on either side of the road.

“HILL OF BOULDERS” He agreed with the Coroner that, from that point in his evidence onwards, they were not concerned with the main on the same side of the road as the Rising Sun. When the trench was opened up on the other side, continued the constable, a complete fracture of the pipe was discovered. After studying a photograph, he agreed that it looked as if that pipe, as a result of the fracture, was out of alignment. The whole hill, he said, was “composed of big boulders of Bath stone.” He could not say whether or not there had been any movement near the fracture. In answer to a question by Cllr. Campbell, witness said that at one spot the flames were “almost as high

as the telegraph pole.” He added that there were patches of flames “all over the hillside”.

“CAREFULLY CONSIDERED” Replying to Mr. Littler, P.C. Bosley said that it was about 8.15 before any effective reduction in pressure was achieved. When Mr. Parker asked if excavations began at 6.15, witness said it was “early in the morning.” He added that at the time there was fog and the road was frozen, which made it very difficult for everyone. Mr. Parker : The team from Bath had to be organised, fetched from their homes and taken out to Box under those conditions? - I understand that. The decision to reduce pressure had to be very carefully considered? - Yes sir. And before these steps were taken, after consideration and consultation among experts, everyone within 100 yards had been evacuated? - Yes Sir.

“DID NOT HEAR BANG” Mrs. Barbara Rogers, of 10 Hazelbury Hill, Box, sister of Mrs. Griffin, said she lived at the Rising Sun with her two young children, and occupied the bedroom furthest up the hill. “The middle room was occupied by Mr. and Mrs Griffin, and the little girl and Andrew slept in the other. On the evening of December 3

rd she returned just

after 11 o‟clock; the children were in bed. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were in their normal health. At 11.30. Mrs Rogers said, she went to bed and Mr. and Mrs. Griffin would be following quite shortly. The Coroner ; At that time, 11 - 11.30 on that night, was there any mention by anybody that there might be risk of an explosion or anything of that sort? - No. Was anything said in that half hour which would throw any light on what happened a few hours later? - No, nothing at all. Continuing, Mrs. Rogers said. “I was awakened by the falling masonry I suppose, I did not hear a bang, but can remember first the stones falling, but I cannot remember them continuing to fall.”

HEAD WEDGED “I remember the end of the falling, and after that I found that I was trapped but could move my right hand, but not sufficiently to do anything about it. My left arm and hand were pinned down. My head was

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wedged in between stones and my legs were pinned down by stones. “I did not realise what had happened ; I did not know whether it was just my end of the house which had gone and I called to Bill my brother-in-law. “I remember seeing through a chink in the stones a light which I thought was a light from the landing, but obviously it was the fire beginning. “My younger child, who slept in the same bed, was crying by my side and I could hear cries from the other one and I could tell that she was buried too because of the sound of the cries.

“LUCKY TO LIVE” I called out several times and eventually I heard someone say “Where are you?” and then the stones and masonry were taken from me. “I was able to get up and they concentrated on Susan and got her out.” Asked by the Coroner whether either of her children, Susan or Louise, had any bones broken, Mrs. Rogers said the former had bruises on her head and the other bruises and abrasions to the skin behind the left ear. Her personal injuries were mostly facial and she had bruises on the body. It appeared that the children were no worse for the experience. The Coroner ; You are lucky to be alive? - Yes we are. Before the explosion, had you heard any movement at all in the house? - No. Mrs. Rogers said it was possible that Mrs. Griffin may have had occasion to get up because Jane was teething.

“FIRE LEFT BURNING” The Coroner ; There must have been something which ignited this gas. Was there any fire left burning in the house? - There was a fire in the dining room at the back, which was going out. There was probably a fire in three rooms but they were not generally made up after 7 o‟clock. The lighting system was electric. Asked what gas appliances there were at the Rising Sun, Mrs. Rogers said there was a gas light in the bar which was rarely used : a gas cooker in the kitchen; a geyser in the bathroom which was between the children‟s bedroom and that of their parents; a gas boiler in one of the basements.

Mrs. Rogers, who said she had lived at the Rising Sun for 21 years, told the Coroner she had noticed a smell of gas “on a great number of occasions.” Sometimes, she said, it was worse than on others, and at such times they notified the Gas Board who always sent. Asked what they did, she said, “On a few occasions they dug up the pavement in front of the house and inspected the pipe which fed our meter. “On one or two occasions they went all over the house trying to find the escaping gas but were unsuccessful. On other occasions they told us the smell was just stale gas lingering in the air because of the hill slipping and that nothing could be done about it.”

“HILL SLIPPING” REFERENCE Mrs. Rogers said she had heard someone from the Gas Board say the hill was slipping. The last time she heard that reference would have been 18 months to two years ago. The Coroner : You had heard it on other occasions? - Yes, I had. Witness said that approximately a fortnight before Dec 3

rd, the Gas Board men came to the premises to

attend to a tap on the gas boiler in the basement. Replying to the foreman of the jury, witness said that occasionally they filled up hot water bottles before going to bed. They were most careful about the gas. If Mrs. Griffin had to go to the child‟s room she used a torch. Witness said that dozens of people had smelt the gas on previous occasions. Mr. Parker : You say you can‟t remember ever having seen anything done to the main on the other side of the road and you didn‟t know there was a main there? - “No”. Mr. Parker ; In 1949, the road on the opposite side was excavated? - “I was in London at the time”. Mr. Parker ; But you didn‟t know it then? - “No”. Mrs. Rogers said that her home was at Box and she came home at weekends.

“SMELL STILL THERE” Mr. Parker ; You told the learned Coroner and the jury you noticed a smell of gas on a number of occasions in and around the basement and that was a stale smell? - “Sometimes it was”. Mr. Parker next referred to a main outside the property, and said from time to time representatives of

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the Gas Board came out and worked upon that main and put it right whenever it was wrong. “No” replied Mrs. Rogers. Mr. Parker : That‟s what you say. Mrs Rogers : I know it to be true because the smell of gas was still there after they had done it and they have done it several times.

“PERFECTLY INTACT” Mr. Parker ; Do you know it is a fact that the main we are talking about now, the one that you got the smell from, was examined after the tragic incident and found to be perfectly intact? - “Well. I know nothing about it”. Mr. Parker ; You don‟t know even it stood up to pressure tests since? - “I have heard lots of things, but I don‟t know from my own knowledge”. Mr. Parker ; Would it surprise you to know that the main about which you have been speaking, the one where you remember the smell of gas coming from, had absolutely nothing to do with this explosion at all? - “It doesn‟t surprise me because I don‟t know enough about these matters.” Mr. Parker ; I think you have said this, that whenever the Gas Board were notified, the men came out? - “Yes”. Witness said that until 1955 her father notified the Board, and after that Mr. or Mrs. Griffin, “I can‟t remember ever having rung up myself.” She said that the last occasion the Gas Board man came was to attend to a gas boiler tap which was stiff.

LAST COMPLAINT 1956 Mr. Parker ; Should I be right in saying that the last time that you made any report or complaint to the Gas Board about the smell of gas in or around your premises was in February 1956? - “Yes, it was about that time”. Very nearly two years before this incident? - Yes. And you had no cause for complaint in the meantime? - “Of course, we got so tired of telling them. Every time we told them they said nothing could be done about it”. Mrs. Rogers did not agree with Mr. Parker that the number of complaints that emanated from the house were “really very few over the years”. Witness said the smell of “gas was always there and we were always worried about it.” The hearing was then adjourned until the afternoon.

BIG BOULDER OVER GAS MAIN FRACTURE Board Official at Inquest

“Shifting Hillside” Evidence A very large boulder weighing several hundredweight was found immediately over a fracture in a bulk gas supply main opposite the Rising Sun Inn, Box Hill, an expert witness for the S.W. Gas Board, told the Bath Deputy Coroner (Mr. J.B. Taylor) on Friday evening. “It was in direct contact with the pipe” said Mr. Edward Annakin District engineer and Manager, Bath district, S.W. Gas Board, who was giving evidence at the inquest on the three victims of an explosion which occurred in the early hours of December 4

th.

Mr. Annakin explained that when the fracture occurred the gas took the easiest course out and with cavities in the road, it must have gone through them and presumably into the Rising Sun. It was more than likely that had the roadway not been frozen, the gas would have gone straight up. After the hearing which concerns the death of William Griffin (45), licensee of the Rising Sun, his wife Joyce (42) and their four-year old son, Andrew, had lasted for seven hours, the Coroner adjourned the proceedings until this morning (Saturday 11

th

January).

SHIFTING HILLSIDE Asked by the Coroner if he was able to find any cause on examination for the fracture, Mr. Annakin replied, “It would appear it was due to the shifting hillside throwing weight on to the main, the support of which had been undermined as a result of washing away of the sub-soil by apparent natural drainage over the years, and of which the Board had received no prior warning.” “I am not so sure,” commented the Coroner. Witness said that on examination it was found that the subsoil differed from the general character and was altogether looser. “At the point of fracture large boulders were exposed and several fissures under the road were revealed.

CONCENTRATED PRESSURE

“These boulders could have concentrated pressure on the hillside at the point of fracture where there was a loss of surrounding support on the roadside of the main as a result of the movement of the subsoil”, he said. “The boulders were pressing on the top side of the pipe and there was nothing underneath to counter the pressure”.

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The Coroner: Have you any means of estimating the amount of that pressure? - “It is impossible but it must have been considerable. The very large boulder over the fracture was about 18inches wide and two to three feet in height. It weighed several hundredweights” Was it in direct contact with the pipe? - “Yes”.

PRESSURE BY HILLSIDE

I suppose it follows it obviously could not have been in that position when the pipe was laid? “We could not have laid the pipe had the boulder been in that position at the time”. So then, if what you tell me is right, then the fracture occurred through some subterranean movement? And pressure exerted by the hillside on one side. I suppose that is a phenomenon which is not unknown to the Gas Board? - “I have not had a similar experience”. Talking in general terms the fact that there are subterranean movements is not new and is known to you? - “Yes”. Supposing there is subterranean movement about, is Box Hill likely to produce that movement? - “We have no knowledge of movement on that side of the road where the bulk main is, but we have knowledge of movement on the left hand side, because the road is made up on that side”.

CAVITIES IN ROAD What length of time do you think elapsed between the fracture and the explosion? - “A very short period. In the light of knowledge we now have, it can have only been within 30 minutes”. Mr. Annakin explained that when a fracture occurred, the gas took the easiest way out. Unfortunately the road was icebound and there was the hillside. Excavations revealed cavities in the road and the gas would take the easiest course and go through those presumably into the Rising Sun. The Coroner ; So, in your view, if the roadway had not been frozen and the hillside had not been frozen the chances are that this gas would have gone straight up? - “More than likely. At any rate there would not have been the huge quantity in the Rising Sun which went in there”. The gas, having gone there, it would have needed something to have ignited it, can you help me at all on that? - “I am afraid I cannot. Certainly there must have been some naked light”.

“LATEST MEANS” Asked by the Coroner what was being done now, Mr. Annakin replied that the Board was relaying the bulk supply main with welded steel extensively. “We have re-laid a section of the five-inch main and we will continue extending the relaying of this” he said. “We are using the very latest available means, methods and skills to ensure we have the very best known means of pipe laying and security on this hillside.” Replying to the jury foreman, witness said he was sure that there was no leakage prior to the fracture. When he began his evidence, Mr. Annakin told the Coroner that he had been engaged in the gas industry for 32 years and had been at Bath since 1950.

ESCAPES “PRIORITY” All reported escapes were given the highest priority at all times and he was satisfied that the instruction was carried out. A record was kept of reported escapes and also of the work carried out to remedy them. At Box Hill there were two mains, a five-inch local supply on the left hand side going up and a 12-inch bulk supply main on the other. The five-inch pipe was laid in 1905 and the 12-inch in 1932. From a capital expenditure point of view a 12-inch pipe was written off in 60 years, but after 100 years it could be examined and be in good condition. Over a period of years all mains were examined.

CLOSING OF VALVES Referring to the morning of December 4

th, witness

said that when he reached Box Hill at 7am, nine Gas Board men, under the Mains Superintendent, were on the scene. The Assistant Mains Superintendent and two mains and service foreman were present. Asked what steps the Board had taken, he replied that they had contacted the Fire Service and arranged the evacuation of adjacent properties and had commenced excavations to enable the main to be cut off. The staff had also seen to the closing of the valves on the bulk supply both above and below the Inn. “I approved the action which had been taken” he said.

EVIDENCE OF RECORDS Mr. Annakin said that, by 8.10am to all intents and purposes, no gas was going up Box Hill. A further

8

explosion occurred at 8.40am which was attributed to the gas left in the ground on the hillside. By 1.30pm the area was completely isolated. Witness referred to records which were kept concerning all complaints and the action which had been taken. He produced a list regarding Box Hill and said that the first entry was from April 15

th, 1948, and the last

December 4th 1957.

23 ENTRIES

There were in all, 23 entries and the previous one relating to the 12-inch main was September 23

rd 1949

which recorded, “Rising Sun, Box Hill, escape 12-inch main, joint drawn, collar fixed.” The spot was slightly below the Rising Sun. Replying to the Coroner, witness said that from time to time the main had been tested by the use of instruments. Continuing, Mr. Annakin said that 17 entries relates to the five-inch main, and on four occasions no trace of gas was discovered. The Coroner said that the list showed that 17 leaks had been reported over a period of nine years, and he asked over what distance of pipe. Mr. Annakin said about 1¼ miles. The Coroner : how does that compare with the average? - “It is higher than average”. Can you tell me what the average figure is? - “No”. Witness agreed that the last report of escaping gas in the area was February 24

th 1956.

Mr. Annakin said that 135 yards of the five-inch man had been examined at Box Hill on either side of the Rising Sun and it appeared to be in good condition. The result of an air pressure test was satisfactory, and well within the safety limit.

FIRE OFFICER‟S EVIDENCE Sub-Officer Sidney Rivers of 165, Wood Lane, Chippenham said that the call bell operated at 5.18am on December 4

th, and he left the station with a crew of

five men and a pump escape at 5.25 am. The road conditions were very bad, with visibility between 10 to 15 yards. Witness said they reached the Rising Sun at 5.45am and he was informed that there were still persons trapped in the debris. Sub-Officer Rivers said rescue operations started, and they moved stones and debris with their hands.

“After we had been doing that for some time, I heard a noise to the South side, towards Box. At first I didn‟t understand what the noise was, but I found out it was the noise of a dog.” Witness added that firemen removed debris and extricated the dog.

WALL OF FIRE

Sub-Officer Rivers said he was searching the top as much as possible. There was a wall of fire in front of the building. Here were minor explosions going on all the time. “I searched among the debris and I could just see the head of a person through the debris”, he added. Witness said that at 7.50am he discovered an adult body. After removing some rafters he found there was a child in the adult‟s arms. So far as he could judge, both were dead. After calling for assistance, he arranged for both bodies to be removed by ambulance.

LEAN -TO DAMAGED Mr. Alec Thomas Dancey, of Jasmine Cottage, Box Hill, Box, said that on Wednesday December 4

th at

about 4.30am he was awakened by an explosion. The glass lean-to at the side of his house was practically blown in. “When I got outside the door, looking up the road I could see walls of flame each side of the road and the Rising Sun had gone.”

RAN TO PHONE Mr. Dancey said he left his home and ran to the telephone kiosk. Mr. Woodgate came in his car and said he would go for the police. Witness said, “I went straight to the Rising Sun. When I got there, with the rest of the men who were there, we began searching.”

WENT ON SEARCHING Witness said that Mrs. Rogers (Mrs Griffin‟s sister), and the children were already out, and there were three people unaccounted for. Witness said he went on searching until about just after 5am. “We found Mrs. Griffin on top of debris where the yard was at the back of the building. She was dead,” added Mr. Dancey. They went on searching for the others said witness, and then the police and firemen came. Witness said he had lived at Box for 54 years. He spoke of the gas having smelt from the White Gate up to above the Rising Sun. “It stank there for years”, he added. “that gas again”, he said, was a remark everyone used to pass.

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ENTANGLED IN WIRES

Mr. Ronald David Barnett, of Briar Dale, Box Hill, who lives practically opposite the Rising Sun, said that when he rushed towards the inn, he became entangled in telephone wires. Both sides of the road were in flames. Cries were coming from the building and ***** moving stones. After a while he found the child Susan and after more stones had been removed her mother, Mrs Rogers, was able to stand up. Mr. Law joined him, and together they found the other child and got her out. They found the child Jane and witness said he carried her to a nearby house.

IN PYJAMAS, SLIPPERS

Mr. Charles Woodgate, of Ivy Cottage, Box Hill, who said he lived 75 yards down the hill and on the same side of the Rising Sun said that in pyjamas and slippers he was on the scene within seconds. Flames were then only on the right-hand side of the road, and there were none on the side of the Rising Sun. He ran across the rubble calling and shouting but heard nothing. He then rushed home to telephone for assistance, but found the telephone was out of order. He got out his car and drove to Box Police Station. When he returned at about 4.30am flames were appearing from the rubble and along the line of the building. Witness said that about a year ago, when Mr. Griffin was injured in a road accident, he helped with the management of the inn and very often noticed a smell of stale gas in the cellar. At this stage the foreman of the jury said they would like to congratulate Messrs, Woodgate, Barnett and Dancey on their prompt and neighbourly turn-out.

VICIOUS EXPLOSION Mr. Arthur Clifford Law, of Highway, Box Hill, said there was a flash and a vicious explosion, which threw him across the bedroom. Together with Mr. Bartlett, he released Louise (daughter of Mrs. Rogers), and then he found Mrs. Griffin. Witness said Jayne‟s cot was in the garden on the other side of the road, which suggested to him that she could not have been in it when the explosion occurred.

Mr. Law said there were jets of flames coming from the wall at the back of the inn, which would be in line with the service main. He last complained about a leakage of gas at his home some two years ago, when it was found that there was a two-inch fracture, and a new branch main was run in. Witness said he had frequently smelt gas outside the inn. Mr. Eli Francis Box of 55, Coronation Avenue, Oldfield Park, Bath, Engine attendant, Bath Gas Works, said he had been employed on that work for 40 years. It was his job to see that pressure was maintained through the mains, and for this purpose he had ******* which showed the pressure in the main district supplies. There were records in the engine room which showed the pressure of the gas, and if for any reason pressure went down, it was his job to put it up again. Witness said that the main going up Box Hill was gas from Bath to Chippenham-Devizes. Mr. Box said that he was on duty on the night of the 3

rd - 4

th. He came on duty at about 10pm. He first

noticed that something was amiss when, at 4.10am, the signal started signalling for gas, and pressure started dropping in the Lacock district, which was the 12-inch main going up Box Hill. Witness said that to remedy this he started pumping more gas through. The Coroner : I suppose the more the pressure fell, the more gas you put through? - “Yes, that‟s right”. The Coroner : Was there anything unusual in there being a gradual fall of pressure at about that time? - “No, there was nothing unusual”.

COLD NIGHT The Coroner : Would you expect much gas consumed about 10 past four ? - “That night, because it was a cold night”. The Coroner : Do you find many people use much gas about 10 past four in the morning? - “Oh, yes, factories”. Witness said that in about an hour the pressure began to rise. “I received a call from Box at 5.20am to state they had a main afire at the Rising Sun. They addressed themselves as the Fire Brigade” said Mr. Box who added that he warned the emergency man straight away.

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Witness added that he telephoned Mr. Butcher, of Stanley Road, Oldfield Park and told him about the main being afire at Box. At 5.30am he received another call from Box to know whether he had received the message to know the main was afire, Replying to Mr. C. A. Parker (for the Gas Board), witness said that apart from domestic consumers there were a number of industrial consumers around that area.

Deputy Coroner Sums Up

„COLD COURAGE OF GOOD NEIGHBOURS‟ The Deputy Coroner in his summing up, said that the jury had to sift out a mass of words, “a very small matter”. “Quite deliberately I have allowed, because of the importance and gravity of this matter, evidence to be given which had a bearing on the matters which you have to decide but were not relative to it”. “The fact that all these witnesses have come must not drive you away from the position that your problem is quite short. You have to decide where, how, and by what means these three persons, unfortunately came to their death. “I am particularly bound to tell you that you are not to consider any question of civil liability. If there has been an absence of reasonable care or what you and I would call negligence or carelessness, this is a matter of civil liability, and neither you nor I must try to arrogate to yourselves the business of the Queen‟s Justices.

JURY‟S TASK “You only go further if you are satisfied from the evidence that there has been criminal negligence. What that means is something far in excess of carelessness or lack of alertness; that there has been some gross callous breach by anyone of the regulations generally with an element of reckless disregard of these regulations.” The Coroner said that two-thirds of the jury‟s task was quite simple. It was known that all three had died at the Rising Sun, and there had been medical evidence of how they died. It seemed obvious that, sometime between 3.30am and 4am, a main was fractured, but, because of the frozen surface of the ground, instead of escaping up into the atmosphere where the danger could have been detected easily, it went into fissures in the ground, went into the Rising Sun, was ignited, possibly through one of the fires still being alight, and there was an explosion.

COLD COURAGE

“You must look further and see if there is evidence of criminal negligence against anyone,” the Coroner

continued. “If you do, as a matter of law I am bound, irrespective of what you say, to commit a person or body to stand his or her trial at Assizes on a charge of manslaughter. I mention this so that you may come to your decision not lightly.” He said the jury would no doubt be impressed about the number of complaints which had been made about the smell of gas, but warned them not to attach too much weight to this, because there was a danger of looking backwards in the light of tragedy and attaching an importance which had never been intended at the time. One witness had said they had looked upon it as fun, and saying, “it‟s that gas again.” “He obviously puts the matter, at that time, at a much lower level than that at which some people would have you place it now,” said the Coroner. No complaint had been made in writing, and the last complaint seems to have been made about 22 months previously. Some witnesses had said it was no use making complaints. But it appeared from the evidence, “and the witnesses were tested pretty hard,” that every time a complaint was made the Gas Board went out and did something.

“A SUSPICION” “The fact that they came, and this is only my view, conduct of that sort tends to rule out, on the part of the Gas Board, any of the requisite facets of careless disregard of safety, which is the element with which you are concerned. “You may still have a suspicion that they were not very alert or that they should have done more than they did. But this is a matter of civil liability. “You may think that on the ****** which could be made against the Gas Board. The highest that can be said is that they have no regular system of maintenance of these pipes, and, secondly, that they were not perhaps alert to have drawn from these 22 entries the inference that something was amiss. “Failure to be alert would not amount to that high degree of carelessness which, in this court ought to be described as criminal negligence. The Coroner said that the jury should not overlook the conduct of the police, fire and rescue services “who seem to have behaved very well indeed.” “What impressed me was the cold courage of those good neighbours up at Box Hill, who at 4.30 in the morning, after a dreadful explosion, went through a wall of flame and walked about debris through which flames were coming, to get out the people who were there.

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“OF HIGHEST COURAGE”

“They knew all the time that there was a risk of another explosion, and that flames were creeping up the hill to their own houses, which in some cases, had been damaged already. You may think that they are gentlemen of the highest courage. “You may think also that P.C. Bosley of Box did very well. He had knowledge of this matter from the very early hours and without any hesitation, at 4.30 in the morning, he set in motion those very necessary steps which enabled the damage to be confined to a small area, and enabled the life of the rest of the community to proceed.” The Coroner said that criticism could not possibly fall on Mr. Box for carrying out his duties in keeping up gas pressure at a time when he knew there had been a fall in pressure.

BOX DEATHS „ACCIDENTAL‟, SAY JURY

‘Fractured Gas Main Due to Subsidence’ VERDICTS OF “ACCIDENTAL DEATH” WERE RETURNED AT BATH THIS AFTERNOON AT THE INQUEST ON THE THREE

VICTIMS OF THE BOX HILL GAS EXPLOSION.

The jury, who had spent ten hours hearing evidence from witnesses, were out of court for 25 minutes considering their verdicts. The inquest was on the three people who died in the disaster - William Graham Griffin (45), licensee of the Rising Sun, his wife Joyce Mary, and their four-year-old son Andrew. (******) The jury found that Mr. & Mrs. Griffin died as the result of an explosion caused by an escape of gas from a fracture in a 12-inch supply main, and that the son Andrew, died in a fire following the explosion. “We find that the deaths were accidental in each case”, said the foreman, “and that the fracture was caused by a subsidence of the ground in which the main was laid. “Mr Box (engine attendant, Bath Gas Works) carried out his full duties and no act of his contributed to the disaster. The jury also consider that P.C. Bosley, neighbours, and the services concerned, all acted with the greatest promptness and courage, and hope that this will be drawn to the notice of the appropriate authorities”

IMPOSSIBLE

Mr. Ernest Annakin, engineer and manager, Bath District S.W. Gas Board, continuing his evidence this morning, said the escaping gas would have gone so quickly into the Rising Sun (the building demolished by the explosion on Dec 4

th), that it would have been impossible to take any

steps to reduce the pressure.

He stated that had they instant knowledge of the fracture in the 12-inch bulk supply main, no action could have been taken to prevent the explosion which followed. Mr. Annakin, who was last witness on Friday night said that all reports of leakages were given the highest priority. A record was maintained with details of the work carried out. Mr. Annakin told the Deputy Coroner, Mr. J.B. Taylor, who is sitting with a jury of 10 men, that when a trench was opened up on the opposite side of the road to the Rising Sun, a fracture was found in the 12-inch bulk supply main.

IMMEDIATELY OVER Immediately over the fracture and in direct contact with the pipe was a boulder weighing several hundredweights. It appeared from examination that the fracture had been caused by the shifting hillside throwing weight on to the main, the support of which had been undermined by subsoil washing away. When the hearing was resumed this morning, members of the jury put questions to Mr. Annakin, who in reply said that his assumption was that the leakage rate followed the fracture was at 1,000 cubic feet per minute. Asked by the coroner how long it would be after the fracture before there would be a variation on the meter at Bath, witness replied in the neighbourhood of 20 minutes to half an hour. Mr. John Littler (Cartwright, Taylor and Corpe), who is representing Bristol Brewery, Georges and Co. Ltd, and a number of insurance companies, asked if he was right in assuming that the maintenance system was that once mains were laid there was no routine inspection and that the mains were examined only as and when faults were reported. Mr. Annakin said he was correct, except that when maintenance was carried out on mains, additions or alterations made, then the opportunity was also taken for inspection. The valves on the mains were inspected at frequent intervals. Mr. Littler: When was the last time the 12-inch main was examined? Prior to the explosion the 12-inch main had not been opened for examination since 1949, but on four occasions it had been tested with instruments for gas leakage since that time. What was the date of the last test prior to the explosion? - February 1956.

23 REPORTED LEAKAGES Referring to the list of 23 reported leakages at Box Hill, Mr. Littler said there was no reference to an engineer from the Board calling at The Rising Sun two weeks before the explosion. Mr. Annakin replied, “It was to a washing boiler with a stiff tap, which I would suggest has no bearing on this at all”.

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Further questioned, Mr. Annakin said shifting was expected on the Rising Sun side because the ground had been made up to form road level but the 12-inch pipe had been laid on solid ground. Mr. Littler asked if he was right in assuming that a lead joint was not the best type for a gas main on shifting ground. Mr. Annakin you are, in the light of recent development, correct, but the lead joint has for many years been satisfactory.

WOULD MEAN RE-LAYING

Would it not have been better to have had cast iron flexible joints? – It would mean re-laying the main in its entirety. As the opportunity arises and the need is there, the Board are replacing the open socket type joints with flexible joints. Mr. Annakin stressed that there was no connection between the 5inch. pipe and the explosion. He did not think that the number of leakages reported from Box Hill were unduly high over a period of ten years in view of the shifting nature of the ground. Mr. Littler: the 12inch. main lies only 25 feet away from the 5inch if you have shifting ground where the 5inch is, don‟t you think it is reasonable to expect movement at the 12-inch. main? – No. My reason for saying that is that in the construction of the road they have cut into the hillside on the right-hand side and the ***** is laid in *****.

“WEIGHT OF HILL”

Would you not accept that because of the weight of the hill that there would probably be more pressure on the 12-inch. side and more movement than on the 5inch? If pressure was exerted on to the main from the hillside provided that the foundation of it, the soil on the lower side of it is solid, the amount of pressure exerted would be immaterial. It would have no effect on the main. Referring to when the 12-inch main was repaired in 1949, witness said there was no report indicating there was anything abnormal at the time. The excavation for that repair would not necessarily be a very large one. It was possible, unless there was a considerable excavation for the fissures and cavities, not to be revealed. Witness agreed that when the pipe was unearthed after the explosion it was what was technically called “sprung”. He suggested that the reason for the springing was due to the pressure exerted behind the boulder which was lying at the side of the main at the point of fracture.

TESTED BY MANUFACTURERS

Mr. Annakin said they stripped approximately 50 yards of the main and removed some 20-30 yards of the main and they had had a section of the main tested by the manufacturers. Mr. Littler: On the question of this boulder. Would it be right to say, that from examination of this 12-inch main the joints on the part that is now in the yard are strained?- Yes, but the straining is slight. He attributed the straining to the pressure exerted by the boulder or the pressure exerted by the hillside on the boulder. It was, said witness, a clean break and all parts were clean. There was no sign of any rusting. Mr. F.J. Brunskill, (Delme, Radcliffe and Brunskill), representing the family and Mrs. Rogers (Mrs. Griffin‟s sister, who survived the explosion with her two children), asked Mr. Annakin whether he had any knowledge of trouble when the pipes were laid in 1932. Witness said he had no records of any trouble because no records were kept. Can you say from your knowledge whether there was an appreciable explosion in 1932? - I have no knowledge on record of an explosion. Mr. Annakin, replying to a further question, said the Board was now X-raying joints to ensure they were perfect. It was a very recent innovation. The emergency system, said witness, comprised of a stand by fitter and three main laying personnel and an inspector. Cllr. Robert Campbell (Moger, Campbell and Co., Bath), representing two residents whose property was damaged at the time of the explosion, asked if the Board maintained any record of stratas through which the pressure mains passed, and Mr. Annakin replied, “No.”

“SO QUICKLY…”

He added that any peculiar circumstances would be noted. Is there a record of this Box section being a potential trouble spot? – There is no record. “Don‟t you think that is a little unusual in view of the trouble you experienced?” asked Cllr. Campbell. The Coroner interposed to say “Isn‟t that a matter for the jury.” In answer to another question by Cllr. Campbell, Mr. Annakin said “Had we had instant knowledge of it, we could not have taken any action which could have prevented the explosion.” “The gas would go so quickly into the building it would be impossible to take any steps to reduce the pressure.”

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“CORRECT THING”

Mr. Cecil A. Parker, Wansbrough and Co., Bristol, for the S.W. Gas Board, asked if Mr. Box‟s action in building up the pressure when he saw the fall was occurring was reasonable. Witness replied that he was carrying out his duty as instructed: it was a correct thing for him to do. Mr. Parker: There was nothing he could have done, rightly or wrongly, to have prevented this unfortunate explosion? - Nothing whatever. Mr. Annakin said there was no question of the breakage being due to the deterioration of the main itself. The joint repaired in 1949 had nothing to do with the explosion. Witness said he was satisfied that there was leakage of the 12-in. main prior to the fracture,

THANKED BY CORONER

In reply to a further question Mr. Annakin said that *** that **** exposed the whole of the main and total length, they would not be able to determine an eventuality of this nature would occur.” A total examination could possibly be more dangerous as opposed to an individual examination. Mr. Annakin left the witness box at 12.20pm, after giving evidence for 4½ hours. He was thanked by the Coroner for giving his evidence “in a manner which has considerably helped us.”

0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0

SOME EXPLANATORY NOTES BY THE EDITOR ! A „Cyclemaster‟ was an early example of a motor-assisted pedal cycle. A „Geyser‟ is an apparatus for heating water rapidly with a gas flame. Usually fixed to a wall near a sink or clothes washing tub. This was before „central heating‟ became common-place. „Georges‟ brewery in now incorporated into „Courages‟

Imperial measurements

Length/Distance

1 foot (12 inches) is equivalent to about 30 centimetres 5 inches is equivalent to about 13 centimetres 1 yard was “3 feet” and equivalent to just under a metre 1 mile is equivalent to about 1.6 kilometers

Mass/Weight

A „hundredweight‟ is just over 50 kg.

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Food for thought ?

William Griffin was born in the early part of 1912 at Chippenham and his wife was born as Joyce Smith in Bristol in the spring of 1916. They were married at Chippenham in the summer of 1951. An Andrew (P.) Griffin was born in the autumn of 1953 in Bath. A Jane (E.) Griffin was born in the summer of 1955 in Bath. William Griffin and his wife Joyce are buried in the Box Parish Cemetery on the Bath Road just outside the village. This is revealed in the registers. However, no trace can be found in those records of the interment of their 4 year old son Andrew (P.). And what became of the toddler Jane who survived the blast? There was a rumour that she was „blown into a tree‟ by the explosion, and if so, may have contributed to her survival. Was she given into the care of her aunt Barbara Rogers who was also living in the pub and survived the blast? After the destruction of the Rising Sun she moved to 10, Hazelbury Hill, Box, presumably with her two children Susan & Louise. Mrs. Barbara Rogers is the sister of Joyce Griffin (née Smith). It also seems likely that they were the daughters of a previous proprietor Harry Smith. See the photo on the next page! (note - a Harry G. Smith married an Ada Brittan (surname stated as Joyce’s mother), in Bristol in the spring of 1914). A Barbara Smith married an Ernest J. Rogers in Chippenham in the autumn of 1950.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Has the 12-inch main been strengthened since? Box Hill is still liable to movement if the surface of the road is to be believed. Does anyone know what became of Jane, or the Rogers family ? Can anyone add anything to this subject ? If you do, can you let the editor of the Box Parish website know ?

15

Below are four photographs that may be of interest. The one on the top left is a reproduction of one I found in one of Ibberson‟s books about Box. It appears to be some sort of post or business card. The proprietors are not the Griffins. The writing states - RISING SUN INN, BOX HILL, WILTS. (PHONE 66) BED & BREAKFAST. GARAGE. (PROP) HARRY SMITH. ( an internet search reveals that he was the licensee in 1939! ) The other three are modern ones of the site taken in 2013

The Rising Sun Inn, Box Hill, Box. Wiltshire

(date unknown) The site of the Rising Sun Inn, view of the bus shelter

looking downhill towards the village

The site of the Rising Sun Inn, the grassed area looking

into the Bybrook valley towards Colerne The site of the Rising Sun Inn, looking from the village

end, uphill towards the bus shelter.

16

SOME EXCERPTS FROM BOX PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES AFTER THE EXPLOSION September

1958

COMMUNICATIONS The Rising Sun, Box Hill. From The Bristol Brewery Georges & Co. Ltd dated 6th august stating that as the claim against the Gas Board has not yet been settled the premises must remain undisturbed. They will, however, deal with the site as soon as the Valuer will allow.

?? ANY OTHER BUSINESS - The Rising Sun, Box Hill, The clerk was instructed to write to the brewers asking if steps could be taken to tidy up the derelict site.

8th

September 1958

COMMUNICATIONS - Site of the Rising Sun, From the clerk of the Wilts County Council inviting the Council to appoint representatives to attend a meeting on the site to discuss possible future uses of the site. Mr. T. Carter and Mr. R. Barnett attend the meeting on behalf of the Council. At this stage no definite proposals have been made, but the County Council were to negotiate with the owners to acquire the site.

5th

April 1960

COMMUNICATIONS - Rising Sun Site From the clerk to the County Council dated 17

th March setting out the points arising from the meeting

held on the site on 7th March and asking whether the Council would agree to enter into a short formal

Agreement on taking over the site. Resolved that the Council agree to the points set out by the County Council, and are willing to enter into a formal Agreement in due course. The thanks of the Council were accorded to Mr. Barnett and Mr. Carter for the favourable result of their meeting on the site.

28th June 1960

COMMUNICATIONS - Rising Sun Site. From Wilts C.C. dated 25

th June 1960, enclosing draft of the proposed agreement.

Resolved that this be passed to the Council‟s solicitor for comment

30th

August 1960.

COMMUNICATIONS - Bus Shelter, Rising Sun Site From Messrs Edwards & Webster dated 30

th August 1960 forwarding details of of two alternative

schemes for the shelter on this site. Scheme A was for a shelter in the middle of the site. Scheme B was for a shelter facing down the hill with its back on the boundary adjoining Mr. Calloway‟s property. Resolved that the Architect be instructed to proceed with scheme B.

14th

February 1961

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MEETING - Bus Shelter - Rising Sun site It was agreed that the contract with Messrs. Victor Milsom be signed out of Council when received.