3-011-392 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The explosion of a gunpowder magazine near Erith: ruins of Rayner's house, 1864. Illustration of '...what is left of the house of George Rayner, storekeeper to the magazine of Messrs. John Hall and Sons...[after] the destructive explosion at the Belvedere powder-magazines, near Erith, on Saturday morning, the 1st October...From the evidence...[given at the inquest,] it appeared that two barges, which had brought gunpowder from the mills at Faversham, were lying at the jetty belonging to their magazine at Belvedere when the explosion took place; and it is supposed that one of them was unloading at that moment...The jury [at the inquest] found a verdict declaring that the two persons who died at the hospital were killed by the explosion of gunpowder, but how that explosion had originated there was no evidence to show. The jury however, were of opinion "that the practice of allowing stoves or lights of any description on board the gunpowder barges should be discontinued".' From "Illustrated London News", 1864.