Templeton Carpet Factory Disaster

Found in the stoddard templeton corporate archive the items pictured above all relate to the templeton disaster which occured on 1 november 1889.

Templeton carpet factory disaster.

A photograph showing the western section of james templeton co s carpet factory in william street subsequently renamed templeton street in bridgeton after the disaster of 1 november 1889. The story of the disaster was carved in the stone at the bottom of templeton gate during refurbishment in 2005 there were other extensions from 1920 1930 then in the 1960s but although not so ornate they were carried out in as similar a way as possible. The story of the disaster is carved in a section of stone beneath the base of templeton gate installed during refurbishment work to the area in 2005 the building was completed in 1892 at a cost of 20 000 but restoration of the collapsed facade and weaving sheds added 3000 to the building costs. Work began in 1888 and was completed in 1892 after a major interruption caused by a terrible accident possibly caused by inadequate scaffolding and tying in of the new building with the existing one behind it.

One hundred and thirty years ago 29 young women lost their lives and 32 more were injured in the templeton s carpet factory disaster the east end s worst peacetime tragedy. In 1857 a new factory was built on william street later renamed templeton street. The original factory was on king street now called redan street but burned down in 1856. A beautiful building especially seen from the glasgow green side.

At about 5 15pm that evening unusually high winds caused a large section of the new western extension to collapse into the adjoining weaving shed. 1 1889 high winds caused a collapse at james templeton co s carpet factory in glasgow. Disaster on the green. Last month the mitchell library hosted a lecture disaster on the green by local history researcher bill black.

The templeton disaster of 1889 templeton carpet factory in 1889 29 young women lost their lives when a wall blew down in a gale at templeton carpet factory on glasgow green. The flamboyant glazed brick vitreous enamel tiles red brick and terracotta of the facade evokes the rich oriental influenced patterns of the carpets the factory produced. The ensuing carpet firm of james templeton son was established in bridgeton in 1839.