“The Rising Sun Inn” - INTRODUCTION
1957,, a tremendous explosion occurred halfway up Box
In the middle of a freezing, very foggy night on the 4th December 1957
reached
ched a naked flame
Hill. Gas had escaped from a 12inch gas main and seeped through cavities in the ground until it rea
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.
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
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
Chronicle & Herald newspaper on the 10th and
th
11 of February 1958.
wass my
1958. Copies of the paper published at this time are archived at the library on microfiche. Such wa
interest that I photocopied
een impossible for anyone to
photocopied the relevant frames on the film. Unfortunately, it would have bbeen
read it except via the viewer in the library,
library, so I decided to literally rere-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
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
have been corrected and a few unreadable words that were
obliterated by folds in the original paper copies have
have been replaced by asterisks,
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!
own! This is not a ‘verbatim’ transcript
of the inquest - remember
remember it is a newspaper report of it. It appeared over two days and in ‘multi‘multi-columns’. The reporter
obviously cherrycherry-picked the witnesses and in a few places appears to be slightly out of sequence,
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
computer and
for the adventurous,
adventurous, saved for future access and even loaded onto a ‘KINDLE’,
‘KINDLE’, iPAD
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
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
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Beer who said that all of the three persons enjoyed
normal health.
“NO ROVING ENQUIRY” ADVICE
Coroner’s Comments At Inquest On Box Explosion Victims.
Dr. Pauline Haswell, Royal United Hospital, said all
three were dead when admitted to hospital.
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.
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.
“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”.
Replying to the Coroner, Dr. Bishton said that
undoubtedly the fractures came before the burns and
death must have been almost instantaneous.
TESTS
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.
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.
“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”.
Cause of death was shock due to multiple injuries to
the chest, in which the doctor included the broken
back.
“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.”
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.
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
th
Griffin (4). All three died on December 4 .
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.
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.
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.
IDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE
Evidence of identification was given by Mr. Griffin’s
brother Mr. John Anthony Griffin, of Quarry Cottages,
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”.
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.”
Det. Sgt. Reginald Butler, Wilts Constabulary, said
that at 9am on December 4th, he took a series of
photographs of what was formerly the Rising Sun.
He went again on December 5th and took some more.
Witness produced an album of photographs.
The Coroner : “These gallant people doing this work
had to go from the road into the flames into the rear?”
– “Yes”.
The Coroner commented that the photographs were
“absolutely first-class””, considering the conditions at
the time.
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.
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
rd
was on December 3 1957.
“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.
HEARD EXPLOSION
P.C. J.J. Bosley, stationed at Box, said that on
th
December 4 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.
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’.
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.”
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
The Coroner : “How is the little girl getting on? Is she
all right?”
P.C. Bosley: “I understand – Yes”
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as the telegraph pole.” He added that there were
patches of flames “all over the hillside”.
Witness said that by the time he arrived back
everything was satisfactory, with the road blocks
being put into operation and traffic being diverted.
“CAREFULLY CONSIDERED”
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.
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.”
P.C.. Bosley mentioned that the civilians helped, and
they were a “very great credit”
He added that at the time there was fog and the road
was frozen, which made it very difficult for everyone.
Witness said that he received orders at 6.30am to
“evacuate everyone who were living within
approximately 100 yards of the incident.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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 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.
“The middle room was occupied by Mr. and Mrs
Griffin, and the little girl and Andrew slept in the other.
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.
rd
On the evening of December 3 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.
“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.
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.
When the trench was opened up on the other side,
continued the constable, a complete fracture of the
pipe was discovered.
Was anything said in that half hour which would throw
any light on what happened a few hours later? - No,
nothing at all.
After studying a photograph, he agreed that it looked
as if that pipe, as a result of the fracture, was out of
alignment.
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.”
The whole hill, he said, was “composed of big
boulders of Bath stone.”
HEAD WEDGED
He could not say whether or not there had been any
movement near the fracture.
“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
In answer to a question by Cllr. Campbell, witness
said that at one spot the flames were “almost as high
4
wedged in between stones and my legs were pinned
down by stones.
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.”
“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.
Sometimes, she said, it was worse than on others,
and at such times they notified the Gas Board who
always sent.
“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.
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.
“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.
“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.”
“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.
“HILL SLIPPING” REFERENCE
“I was able to get up and they concentrated on Susan
and got her out.”
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.
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.
The Coroner : You had heard it on other occasions? Yes, I had.
Witness said that approximately a fortnight before
rd
Dec 3 , the Gas Board men came to the premises to
attend to a tap on the gas boiler in the basement.
Her personal injuries were mostly facial and she had
bruises on the body.
The Coroner ; You are lucky to be alive? - Yes we
are.
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.
Before the explosion, had you heard any movement
at all in the house? - No.
Witness said that dozens of people had smelt the gas
on previous occasions.
Mrs. Rogers said it was possible that Mrs. Griffin may
have had occasion to get up because Jane was
teething.
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”.
It appeared that the children were no worse for the
experience.
“FIRE LEFT BURNING”
Mr. Parker ; In 1949, the road on the opposite side
was excavated? - “I was in London at the time”.
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.
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”
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.
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
5
the Gas Board came out and worked upon that main
and put it right whenever it was wrong.
BIG BOULDER OVER GAS MAIN FRACTURE
Board Official at Inquest
“Shifting Hillside” Evidence
“No” replied Mrs. Rogers. Mr. Parker : That’s what
you say.
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.
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”
“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
th
occurred in the early hours of December 4 .
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. 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.
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”.
It was more than likely that had the roadway not been
frozen, the gas would have gone straight up.
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.”
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
th
proceedings until this morning (Saturday 11
January).
Mr. Parker ; I think you have said this, that whenever
the Gas Board were notified, the men came out? “Yes”.
SHIFTING HILLSIDE
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.”
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.”
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”.
“I am not so sure,” commented the Coroner.
Very nearly two years before this incident? - Yes.
“At the point of fracture large boulders were exposed
and several fissures under the road were revealed.
Witness said that on examination it was found that the
subsoil differed from the general character and was
altogether looser.
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”.
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.
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 boulders were pressing on the top side of the
pipe and there was nothing underneath to counter the
pressure”.
The hearing was then adjourned until the afternoon.
6
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”
“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.
Was it in direct contact with the pipe? - “Yes”.
“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.”
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”.
Replying to the jury foreman, witness said he was
sure that there was no leakage prior to the fracture.
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.
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.
I suppose that is a phenomenon which is not
unknown to the Gas Board? - “I have not had a similar
experience”.
ESCAPES “PRIORITY”
All reported escapes were given the highest priority at
all times and he was satisfied that the instruction was
carried out.
Talking in general terms the fact that there are
subterranean movements is not new and is known to
you? - “Yes”.
A record was kept of reported escapes and also of the
work carried out to remedy them.
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”.
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 12inch pipe was written off in 60 years, but after 100
years it could be examined and be in good condition.
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”.
Over a period of years all mains were examined.
CLOSING OF VALVES
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.
th
Referring to the morning of December 4 , 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.
Excavations revealed cavities in the road and the gas
would take the easiest course and go through those
presumably into the Rising Sun.
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 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 staff had also seen to the closing of the valves on
the bulk supply both above and below the Inn.
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”.
“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
7
explosion occurred at 8.40am which was attributed to
the gas left in the ground on the hillside.
“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.”
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.
Witness added that firemen removed debris and
extricated the dog.
WALL OF FIRE
He produced a list regarding Box Hill and said that the
th
first entry was from April 15 , 1948, and the last
th
December 4 1957.
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.
23 ENTRIES
There were in all, 23 entries and the previous one
relating to the 12-inch main was September 23rd 1949
which recorded, “Rising Sun, Box Hill, escape 12-inch
main, joint drawn, collar fixed.” The spot was slightly
below the Rising Sun.
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.
Replying to the Coroner, witness said that from time
to time the main had been tested by the use of
instruments.
After calling for assistance, he arranged for both
bodies to be removed by ambulance.
Continuing, Mr. Annakin said that 17 entries relates to
the five-inch main, and on four occasions no trace of
gas was discovered.
LEAN -TO DAMAGED
Mr. Alec Thomas Dancey, of Jasmine Cottage, Box
th
Hill, Box, said that on Wednesday December 4 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.”
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”.
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.
Can you tell me what the average figure is? - “No”.
Witness agreed that the last report of escaping gas in
th
the area was February 24 1956.
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.”
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.
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.
FIRE OFFICER’S EVIDENCE
Sub-Officer Sidney Rivers of 165, Wood Lane,
Chippenham said that the call bell operated at 5.18am
th
on December 4 , 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.
“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 they reached the Rising Sun at 5.45am
and he was informed that there were still persons
trapped in the debris.
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.
Sub-Officer Rivers said rescue operations started,
and they moved stones and debris with their hands.
8
ENTANGLED IN WIRES
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Witness said that the main going up Box Hill was gas
from Bath to Chippenham-Devizes.
Flames were then only on the right-hand side of the
road, and there were none on the side of the Rising
Sun.
Mr. Box said that he was on duty on the night of the
rd
th
3 - 4 . 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.
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.
Witness said that to remedy this he started pumping
more gas through.
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.
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”.
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.
COLD NIGHT
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.
The Coroner : Would you expect much gas consumed
about 10 past four ? - “That night, because it was a
cold night”.
VICIOUS EXPLOSION
The Coroner : Do you find many people use much
gas about 10 past four in the morning? - “Oh, yes,
factories”.
Mr. Arthur Clifford Law, of Highway, Box Hill, said
there was a flash and a vicious explosion, which
threw him across the bedroom.
Witness said that in about an hour the pressure
began to rise.
Together with Mr. Bartlett, he released Louise
(daughter of Mrs. Rogers), and then he found Mrs.
Griffin.
“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.
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.
9
Witness added that he telephoned Mr. Butcher, of
Stanley Road, Oldfield Park and told him about the
main being afire at Box.
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.”
At 5.30am he received another call from Box to know
whether he had received the message to know the
main was afire,
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.
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.
One witness had said they had looked upon it as fun, and
saying, “it’s that gas again.”
Deputy Coroner Sums Up
‘COLD COURAGE OF GOOD NEIGHBOURS’
“He obviously puts the matter, at that time, at a much
The Deputy Coroner in his summing up, said that the jury lower level than that at which some people would have
had to sift out a mass of words, “a very small matter”.
you place it now,” said the Coroner.
“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”.
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
“The fact that all these witnesses have come must not time a complaint was made the Gas Board went out and
drive you away from the position that your problem is did something.
quite short. You have to decide where, how, and by what
means these three persons, unfortunately came to their
“A SUSPICION”
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.
“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.
JURY’S TASK
“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 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.”
“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.
The Coroner said that two-thirds of the jury’s task was “Failure to be alert would not amount to that high degree
quite simple. It was known that all three had died at the of carelessness which, in this court ought to be described
Rising Sun, and there had been medical evidence of how as criminal negligence.
they died.
The Coroner said that the jury should not overlook the
It seemed obvious that, sometime between 3.30am and conduct of the police, fire and rescue services “who seem
4am, a main was fractured, but, because of the frozen to have behaved very well indeed.”
surface of the ground, instead of escaping up into the
atmosphere where the danger could have been detected “What impressed me was the cold courage of those good
easily, it went into fissures in the ground, went into the neighbours up at Box Hill, who at 4.30 in the morning,
Rising Sun, was ignited, possibly through one of the fires after a dreadful explosion, went through a wall of flame
still being alight, and there was an explosion.
and walked about debris through which flames were
coming, to get out the people who were there.
COLD COURAGE
“You must look further and see if there is evidence of
criminal negligence against anyone,” the Coroner
10
“OF HIGHEST COURAGE”
He stated that had they instant knowledge of the fracture
in the 12-inch bulk supply main, no action could have
“They knew all the time that there was a risk of another been taken to prevent the explosion which followed.
explosion, and that flames were creeping up the hill to
their own houses, which in some cases, had been Mr. Annakin, who was last witness on Friday night said
damaged already. You may think that they are gentlemen that all reports of leakages were given the highest priority.
of the highest courage.
A record was maintained with details of the work carried
out.
“You may think also that P.C. Bosley of Box did very well.
He had knowledge of this matter from the very early hours Mr. Annakin told the Deputy Coroner, Mr. J.B. Taylor,
and without any hesitation, at 4.30 in the morning, he set who is sitting with a jury of 10 men, that when a trench
in motion those very necessary steps which enabled the was opened up on the opposite side of the road to the
damage to be confined to a small area, and enabled the Rising Sun, a fracture was found in the 12-inch bulk
life of the rest of the community to proceed.”
supply main.
IMMEDIATELY OVER
The Coroner said that criticism could not possibly fall on
Mr. Box for carrying out his duties in keeping up gas Immediately over the fracture and in direct contact with
pressure at a time when he knew there had been a fall in the pipe was a boulder weighing several hundredweights.
pressure.
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
BOX DEATHS ‘ACCIDENTAL’, SAY JURY
subsoil washing away.
‘Fractured Gas Main Due to Subsidence’
When the hearing was resumed this morning, members of
VERDICTS OF “ACCIDENTAL DEATH” WERE RETURNED AT the jury put questions to Mr. Annakin, who in reply said
BATH THIS AFTERNOON AT THE INQUEST ON THE THREE that his assumption was that the leakage rate followed the
VICTIMS OF THE BOX HILL GAS EXPLOSION.
fracture was at 1,000 cubic feet per minute.
The jury, who had spent ten hours hearing evidence from Asked by the coroner how long it would be after the
witnesses, were out of court for 25 minutes considering fracture before there would be a variation on the meter at
their verdicts.
Bath, witness replied in the neighbourhood of 20 minutes
to half an hour.
The inquest was on the three people who died in the
disaster - William Graham Griffin (45), licensee of the Mr. John Littler (Cartwright, Taylor and Corpe), who is
Rising Sun, his wife Joyce Mary, and their four-year-old representing Bristol Brewery, Georges and Co. Ltd, and a
son Andrew. (******)
number of insurance companies, asked if he was right in
assuming that the maintenance system was that once
The jury found that Mr. & Mrs. Griffin died as the result of mains were laid there was no routine inspection and that
an explosion caused by an escape of gas from a fracture the mains were examined only as and when faults were
in a 12-inch supply main, and that the son Andrew, died in reported.
a fire following the explosion.
Mr. Annakin said he was correct, except that when
“We find that the deaths were accidental in each case”, maintenance was carried out on mains, additions or
said the foreman, “and that the fracture was caused by a alterations made, then the opportunity was also taken for
subsidence of the ground in which the main was laid.
inspection. The valves on the mains were inspected at
frequent intervals.
“Mr Box (engine attendant, Bath Gas Works) carried out
his full duties and no act of his contributed to the disaster. Mr. Littler: When was the last time the 12-inch main was
The jury also consider that P.C. Bosley, neighbours, and examined? Prior to the explosion the 12-inch main had
the services concerned, all acted with the greatest not been opened for examination since 1949, but on four
promptness and courage, and hope that this will be drawn occasions it had been tested with instruments for gas
to the notice of the appropriate authorities”
leakage since that time.
IMPOSSIBLE
What was the date of the last test prior to the explosion? February 1956.
Mr. Ernest Annakin, engineer and manager, Bath District
S.W. Gas Board, continuing his evidence this morning,
23 REPORTED LEAKAGES
said the escaping gas would have gone so quickly into the
Rising Sun (the building demolished by the explosion on Referring to the list of 23 reported leakages at Box Hill,
th
Dec 4 ), that it would have been impossible to take any Mr. Littler said there was no reference to an engineer from
steps to reduce the pressure.
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”.
11
Further questioned, Mr. Annakin said shifting was
TESTED BY MANUFACTURERS
expected on the Rising Sun side because the ground had
been made up to form road level but the 12-inch pipe had Mr. Annakin said they stripped approximately 50 yards of
been laid on solid ground.
the main and removed some 20-30 yards of the main and
they had had a section of the main tested by the
Mr. Littler asked if he was right in assuming that a lead manufacturers.
joint was not the best type for a gas main on shifting
ground.
Mr. Littler: On the question of this boulder. Would it be
right to say, that from examination of this 12-inch main the
Mr. Annakin you are, in the light of recent development, joints on the part that is now in the yard are strained?correct, but the lead joint has for many years been Yes, but the straining is slight.
satisfactory.
He attributed the straining to the pressure exerted by the
WOULD MEAN RE-LAYING
boulder or the pressure exerted by the hillside on the
boulder. It was, said witness, a clean break and all parts
Would it not have been better to have had cast iron were clean. There was no sign of any rusting.
flexible joints? – It would mean re-laying the main in its
entirety.
Mr. F.J. Brunskill, (Delme, Radcliffe and Brunskill),
representing the family and Mrs. Rogers (Mrs. Griffin’s
As the opportunity arises and the need is there, the Board sister, who survived the explosion with her two children),
are replacing the open socket type joints with flexible asked Mr. Annakin whether he had any knowledge of
joints.
trouble when the pipes were laid in 1932. Witness said he
had no records of any trouble because no records were
Mr. Annakin stressed that there was no connection kept.
between the 5inch. pipe and the explosion. He did not
think that the number of leakages reported from Box Hill Can you say from your knowledge whether there was an
were unduly high over a period of ten years in view of the appreciable explosion in 1932? - I have no knowledge on
shifting nature of the ground.
record of an explosion.
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 *****.
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.
“WEIGHT OF HILL”
Cllr. Robert Campbell (Moger, Campbell and Co., Bath),
Would you not accept that because of the weight of the representing two residents whose property was damaged
hill that there would probably be more pressure on the 12- at the time of the explosion, asked if the Board maintained
inch. side and more movement than on the 5inch?
any record of stratas through which the pressure mains
passed, and Mr. Annakin replied, “No.”
If pressure was exerted on to the main from the hillside
provided that the foundation of it, the soil on the lower
“SO QUICKLY…”
side of it is solid, the amount of pressure exerted would be
immaterial. It would have no effect on the main.
He added that any peculiar circumstances would be
noted.
Referring to when the 12-inch main was repaired in 1949,
witness said there was no report indicating there was Is there a record of this Box section being a potential
anything abnormal at the time.
trouble spot? – There is no record.
The excavation for that repair would not necessarily be a “Don’t you think that is a little unusual in view of the
very large one. It was possible, unless there was a trouble you experienced?” asked Cllr. Campbell.
considerable excavation for the fissures and cavities, not
to be revealed.
The Coroner interposed to say “Isn’t that a matter for the
jury.”
Witness agreed that when the pipe was unearthed after
the explosion it was what was technically called “sprung”. In answer to another question by Cllr. Campbell, Mr.
He suggested that the reason for the springing was due to Annakin said “Had we had instant knowledge of it, we
the pressure exerted behind the boulder which was lying could not have taken any action which could have
at the side of the main at the point of fracture.
prevented the explosion.”
“The gas would go so quickly into the building it would be
impossible to take any steps to reduce the pressure.”
12
“CORRECT THING”
SOME EXPLANATORY NOTES BY THE EDITOR !
Mr. Cecil A. Parker, Wansbrough and Co., Bristol, for the A ‘Cyclemaster’ was an early example of a motor-assisted
S.W. Gas Board, asked if Mr. Box’s action in building up pedal cycle.
the pressure when he saw the fall was occurring was
reasonable.
A ‘Geyser’ is an apparatus for heating water rapidly with a
gas flame. Usually fixed to a wall near a sink or clothes
Witness replied that he was carrying out his duty as washing tub. This was before ‘central heating’ became
instructed: it was a correct thing for him to do.
common-place.
Mr. Parker: There was nothing he could have done, rightly ‘Georges’ brewery in now incorporated into ‘Courages’
or wrongly, to have prevented this unfortunate explosion?
- Nothing whatever.
Imperial measurements
Mr. Annakin said there was no question of the breakage
Length/Distance
being due to the deterioration of the main itself. The joint
repaired in 1949 had nothing to do with the explosion.
1 foot (12 inches) is equivalent to about 30 centimetres
Witness said he was satisfied that there was leakage of 5 inches is equivalent to about 13 centimetres
the 12-in. main prior to the fracture,
1 yard was “3 feet” and equivalent to just under a metre
THANKED BY CORONER
1 mile is equivalent to about 1.6 kilometers
In reply to a further question Mr. Annakin said that *** that
**** exposed the whole of the main and total length, they
Mass/Weight
would not be able to determine an eventuality of this
nature would occur.”
A ‘hundredweight’ is just over 50 kg.
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
13
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 ?
14
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.
15
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.
th
8
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.
th
5
April
1960
COMMUNICATIONS - Rising Sun Site
From the clerk to the County Council dated 17th 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 25th June 1960, enclosing draft of the proposed agreement.
Resolved that this be passed to the Council’s solicitor for comment
30th
August
1960.
14th
February
1961
COMMUNICATIONS - Bus Shelter, Rising Sun Site
th
From Messrs Edwards & Webster dated 30 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.
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.
16