Silvertown, East London, the snow covered ruins of the devastated TNT factory. On 19 January 1917 a huge explosion ripped apart the works killing 73 and severely damaging many nearby properties.
Silvertown, East London, on 19 January 1917 a devastating explosion ripped apart a high explosive TNT factory killing 73 and severely damaging many nearby properties © Historic England SIL 01-01-01
Silvertown, East London, on 19 January 1917 a devastating explosion ripped apart a high explosive TNT factory killing 73 and severely damaging many nearby properties © Historic England SIL 01-01-01

First World War: Accidental Explosions

Given the huge influx of inexperienced workers into the munitions factories a marked jump in the accident statistics might be expected. There was great pressure to increase production of often novel types of munitions filled with equally new explosives. Official figures show that prior to the war loss of life within the explosives industry was one person per 1,000 employees, rising to 1.25 during the war years.

Around 600 people were killed in accidental explosions at explosives works during the First World War. Most loss of life can be attributed to the manufacture of the high explosive TNT and its derivative amatol. In British service this was a new explosive and the principal production hazard was thought to be fire.

Factories were established in converted buildings in built-up areas. A decision that had devastating results when a TNT plant exploded at Ashton-under-Lyme, Greater Manchester, where 53 died, and later at Silvertown, east London, killing 69; in both incidents workers and local residents lost their lives.

Explosions in purpose-built factories could be equally shattering: at Faversham, Kent, in April 1916, 108 were killed, only exceeded by an explosion at Chilwell, Nottingham, where there were 134 fatalities.

Accidental Explosions

Please click on the gallery images to enlarge.

Silvertown, East London This view shows part of the devastation caused by an accidental explosion at the TNT plant on 19 January 1917. Sixteen staff and 53 local residents were killed. (SIL01/01/01) Silvertown , East London. Monument to 18 workers and 73 local residents killed in an accidental explosion at the Brunner Mond & Co Ltd TNT factory on 19 January 1917. Listed Grade II (BB95/10090) Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. Monument to the 134 workers killed in an explosion at the National Filllng Factory on 1 July 1918 photographed in March 1996 (AA96/03542)
Traces of the First World War
  • First World War: Land

    One of the features of industrialised, mechanised, 20th-century warfare was its hunger for land.

  • First World War: Sea

    At the outbreak of the First World War Great Britain was the world’s greatest naval power.

  • First World War: Air

    Historic England has identified the most significant airfields and airfield buildings of the First World War.

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