The Ashton Munitions Works Explosion

The explosion at the Hooley Hill Rubber and Chemichal Works on William Street Ashton Under Lyne occurred on Wednesday, June 13th 1917 and claimed the lives of 43 people including workers, and local residents. It is clear that the effects of the explosion were felt as far afield as Dukinfield where windows were blown out. This is some two miles away. The factory, which produced TNT for the war effort was situated in a densely populated area and one of the after effects of the explosion was that the area was redeveloped from a slum area, to an area meeting the new standards of the day. Although none of my family were amongst the dead, my grandmother often told me the tale of the day the TNT Works went up. The victims of the explosion are listed below:


Thomas Allen                        51            Charles Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Labourer at Work
Edwin Bibby                           6             Bollington Street, Ashton Under Lyne      Taken to hospital with head injuries and died on Admission
John Birkett                          35            Chapel Street, Ashton Under Lyne             Process Worker/Labourer
Richard Bottomley               53             Manchester Road, Droylsden                      Pipe Fitter
Eli Brimble                           43            William Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Process Foreman
Samuel Britten                      8             Back Mount Street, Ashton Under Lyne     Taken to hospital with a fractured skull:-Dead on Arrival
Arthur Brocklehurst           12             Fitzroy Street, Ashton Under Lyne              Grocer's Errand Boy. Taken to hospital with head injuries:-Dead on arrival
Allen Chadwick                  15             Smith Street, Ashton Under Lyne                Greaser for Great Central Railways
Arthur Cooper                     29            William Street, Ashton Under Lyne             Process Worker/nitic stills:- Took a fainting girl to safety, then returned
John Cowling                     11             Ann Street, Audenshaw                                Schoolboy
Nathan Daniels                  23             Herbert Street, Manchester                          Chemist
William Day                       50             Hill Street, Dukinfield                                 Process Worker. Taken to Infirmary with a fractured skull
Thomas Dean                     45             Victoria Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Labourer
Joseph Deighton                49             Wharf Street, Dukinfield                              Process Worker. Taken to hospital with burns to entire body. Died 14th June 1917.
Sylvain Dreyfus                  51            Windmill Lane, Denton                                Co Proprietor of Company
James Evans                       24             Old Road, Hyde                                            Draughtsman at works
Albert Evans                      27              Old Road, Hyde                                            Fitter. Brother of James Evans
Harry Froggat                   34              Church Street, Ashton Under Lyne             Pipe Fitter. Identified by his belt
Robert Hatfield                 34              Stanley Street, Ashton Under Lyne             Process Worker
Harold Hilton                   12              Bennett Street, Ashton Under Lyne             Killed whilst playing in the street
William Holden                 9               Park Street, Ashton Under Lyne                  Dead on arrival at hospital
Annie Ingham                   9               William Street, Ashton Under Lyne             Hit by debris in William Street
Florence Jacks                31               Wych Street, Ashton Under Lyne                 Died after giving premature birth to twins at Lakes Hospital
Isaac Johnson                  42               Park Street, Hulme                                      Process Worker
Sarah Kearns                   4                 Gerrard Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Killed by falling glass in Victoria Street
George Liddiard             71                 Victoria Street, Ashton Under Lyne           Yard foreman/fireman who went to the works after hearing the explosion
Herbert Litchfield          35                 Park Street, Ashton Under Lyne                 Process/nitric man
Alexander Mitchell        45                 Burlington Street, Ashton Under Lyne      Foreman Mechanic
John Minch                    49                 Spring Grove Terrace, Ashton U Lyne       Yard foreman.
James Ogden                  76                 William Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Knocker up. Taken to hospital after walking in the street.
William Price                 25                 Moss Street, Ashton Under Lyne                 Labourer. Went back into the building to ensure girlfriend was out
Allen Postles                  42                 Stockport                                                       Pipe Fitter
James Rigby                  12                 Grosvenor Street, Ashton Under Lyne         Part time factory worker,killed whilst returning home from school
Richard Roberts              9                 Hereford Street, Ashton Under Lyne           Taken to hospital with injuries to head. Died on Admission.
John Robinson               25                Weston Street, Openshaw                            Chemical Plumber
Mary Shirt                     64                 John Street, Ashton Under Lyne                 Widow
William Tams                49                 Back Portland Street, Ashton Under Lyne Labourer. Old soldier and sailor
Frederick Watson          10                 Bennett Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Killed with Harold Hilton in William St
Charles Welbourne       28                 Trafalgar Street, Ashton Under Lyne          Railway Fireman
Elizabeth Whittaker      58                 William Street, Ashton Under Lyne           Taken to hospital with broken spine
William Wild                 69                 Victoria Street, Ashton Under Lyne            Grocer. Leg and arm amputated Died of shock
John Wright                  28                 Ellison Street, Ashton Under Lyne              Soldier on leave. Went to assist
John Wroe                    58                 Dale Street, Hooley Hill                                Labourer

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