PURSALL AND PHILLIPS WHITTALL STREET

[Astoness]

a very sad reminder of just how dangerous the munitions business was.. made even more tragic by the ages of these very young girls who lost their lives..some no more than babies...if anyone could provide a map highlighting where this factory was that would be great

lyn

 

[mikejee]

Lyn
It was at 22 Whittall St. The position of it on the c1889 map is below, though, of course we cannot know how far back the building went in 1859

 

[Pedrocut]

The Memorial appears on the Thread "Percussion Cap Manufacturing in Birmingham" and posted by Stitcher.

Percussion Cap Manufacturing In Birmingham

Situation of Percussion Cap manufacture in 1863. In July 1863 the Royal Commission enquiring into the employment of children and young persons in trades and manufacturers not already regulated by law, made their first report. A blue book of 340 pages, some of which were concerned with the...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

I believe that it should have a Thread of its own. This explosion was probably the turning point when the Government was forced to bow to public pressure. The factories were to be removed from urban areas, and so Pursall moved to the hamlet of Witton. George Kynoch was employed by Pursall and after the move to Witton took over the company and changed the name to Kynoch.

The explosions then continued at Witton.

 

[Pedrocut]

The sketch of the explosion...

 

[Radiorails]

Actually it says a photograph. Wm. Pickering was at 18 Moor Street, but when Stern became involved I cannot say.

 

[Pedrocut]

Actually it says a photograph. Wm. Pickering was at 18 Moor Street, but when Stern became involved I cannot say.

I seem to remember that when I posted the picture on the Percussion thread it was actually from the Illustrated London News, and would be a representation from a photograph.