(Roller) Skating Rink New Park Estate Eccles
A roller skating rink. Part of the roof collapsed during construction, injuring five men. However, the suggestion that the roof fall nearly killed the architect is not supported by the initial press reports
FALL OF A SKATING RINK ROOF AT ECCLES. FIVE MEN INJURED -Yesterday morning about ten o’clock the roof of the new skating rink in course of erection on the Eccles New Park Estate, adjoining the Eccles railway station, fell in with a tremendous crash, injuring five men in its fall. Fortunately, the walls of the building stood, or more serious consequences might have happened to the men engaged on the work. The side and one end wall had been erected, and the roof, which is a patent one for carrying felt, was raised over more than three fourths of the area (the span is 60 feet) when the whole suddenly gave way, bringing three men down with it who were at work on the top , and injuring two men who were at work below. It is difficult to ascertain the extent of injuries sustained, and the names of the injured are John Shepherd (foreman) injured about the legs and back; Edward Shepherd, his son, leg supposedly broken in two places; William Redman, Barlow-street, Patricroft; William Myles, Barton; Thomas Mills, Salford (the last three being joiners and were upon the roof). [Manchester Courier Wednesday 25 April Page 6 Column 2] An apparently identical report appeared in the Manchester Guardian 25 April Page 5 Column 3. However the microfilm copy in MCL is mostly illegibly
ECCLES. On Tuesday morning last the roof of a skating rink at Eccles fell in. The roof is a patent one for felt covering and was erected over three-fourths of the span, which is 60 feet, when it suddenly gave way. The reason appears to be that the roof was too light for the span. The rink is being paved by the Val de Travers Company. [British Architect 27 April 1877 Page 262]
ECCLES SKATING RINK - The rink, which was opened in Whit-week, occupies a rectangular plot of land and is divided into a covered rink 137 feet by 60 feet and an open rink 132 feet by 60 feet, with a promenade round 10 feet wide. The approach to the two rinks is through a set of offices consisting of ladies and gentlemen's retiring rooms, skate room, manager's room and pay office. In the rear of these rooms is a large platform 17 feet wide, raised above the rink and connected therewith by a flight of steps 30 feet wide. On the platform there will be refreshment bouffets. The building is constructed of red brick, relieved with buttresses and blue brick bands having ornamental brick cornices and stone copings. The general contract has been executed by Mr William Brown of Eccles and Salford, the sub-contractors being for the brickwork, Mr McKenna, for the excavating, draining and gardening, Mr Hare; for the plumbing, Mr Pendlebury; all of Eccles. The painting has been done by Mr Higson of Salford; all the contract for the rink floors has been carried out by the Val de Travers Paving Company. The roof yet remains to be erected over the covered rink. Designs for the new roof are being prepared and the work will be carried out under the immediate control of the architect, Mr Alfred Darbyshire. [British Architect 1 June 1877 Page 336]