DEATH AT SUTTON BRIDGE LINCOLNSHIRE- TUESDAY 22nd AUGUST 1893
For those readers who are not familiar with the whereabouts of Sutton Bridge, the following extract is from Wikipedia. Sutton Bridge is a village and civil parish in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated on the A17 road, 7 miles (11 km) north from Wisbech and 9 miles (14 km) west from King's Lynn. The village includes a commercial dock on the west bank of the River Nene over which spans a swing bridge, and the parish, two 19th-century lighthouses 3 miles (5 km) to the north from the village on the River Nene.
On a personal level I have spent quite a few hours of my life in Sutton Bridge due to the vagaries of the regions highway maintenance regime. It really is a depressing road the A17 and it is difficult to avoid if you want to enjoy delights that Norfolk offers. And it was in Sutton Bridge on a Tuesday afternoon in August 1893 that seven people from Sheffield lost their lives in a boating tragedy that is now almost forgotten.
The following is a report taken from Spalding Today 17th October 2017 that outlines the tragedy that unfolded on Tuesday 22nd August 1893
"Nothing compared with the significant loss of life that occurred on August 22 1893, when nine people drowned in
a boating accident at Sutton Bridge.
It was a Tuesday afternoon. There had been a fishing competition in the rivers and dykes locally in the preceding days that had drawn people from across the country.
A group of anglers from Sheffield had hired a small sailing boat at Sutton Bridge to take them on a pleasure cruise and fishing trip and also to pick samphire on the marshes.
There were two families and an engaged couple on board. The weather was windy and there were rain showers, but the boat was in the capable hands of local river pilot Edwin Burton and his son Bernard.
The party left before lunch and sailed down the river to the lighthouses that guides shipping down the channel into the river mouth.
On the way back, the boat was caught by a sudden squall and apparently capsized, throwing all its occupants into the river. Some children collecting samphire saw people in the water and raised the alarm. Despite the efforts from many in the community there was only one survivor.
Contemporary reports say that emergency medical treatment was administered to the survivor, a Mrs Smith, by the local doctor by way of an injection of ether, which was apparently used at the time to stimulate the heart.
The vessel that capsized appears to have had a jinxed past. It had been bought by Edwin Burton in King’s Lynn after the boat had been found drifting at sea with corpses of three sailors on board. Where the boat had come from and the identity of the sailors was never established.
Edwin Burton (41) and Bernard (12) were buried in the same grave in Sutton Bridge the following Friday. The victims from Sheffield were presumably repatriated to their home city for burial."
The following articles or the "contemporary reports" however give a far more detailed description of the tragedy and offer an alternative explanation of why the boat capsized.
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 24th August 1893
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 25th August 1893
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 28th August 1893
BURKINSHAW, Joseph (son of J H Burkinshaw, age 3). Died at drowned at S Bdge; Buried on August 24, 1893 in General ground; Grave Number 59, Section V1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: P.
BURKINSHAW, Joseph Hy (Labourer, age 28). Died at S Bdge; Buried on August 24, 1893 in General ground; Grave Number 59, Section V1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: P Found drowned. Plot Owner: W J HARVEY of 81 Worksop Road. Page No
BURKINSHAW, Lucy Annie (wife of [Joseph Hy Burkinshaw], age 30). Died at S Bdge; Buried on August 24, 1893 in General ground; Grave Number 59, Section V1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: P Found drowned. Plot Owner: of . Page No
BURKINSHAW, William Henry (son of J H Burkinshaw, age 5).Died at drowned at Sutton Bdge; Buried on August 24, 1893 in General ground; Grave Number 59, Section V1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: P.
THOMPSON, Albert (Loco Fireman, age 24). Died at drowned at Sutton Bdge; Buried on August 26, 1893 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 12, Section O5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: S. Plot Owner: M THOMPSON of 45 Percy Street. Page No
The grave of Joseph Smith reveals an even greater sadness - two of his daughters
Beatrice and Minnie had died within six months of each other in the year
preceding his own death.
SMITH, Beatrice May (dau of J Smith, age 7 months). Died at 165 Spital Hill; Buried on January 14, 1893 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 43, Section M5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 50409.
SMITH, Joseph (Boiler coverer, age 28).Died at drowned at S Bdge; Buried on August 24, 1893 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 43, Section M5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 50409. Plot Owner: of . Page No
SMITH, Minnie (Dau of J Smith, age 2). Died at 165 Spital Hill; Buried on July 9, 1892 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 43, Section M5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: P. Plot Owner: Joseph SMITH of 165 Spital Hill. Page
I have been unable to locate the burial record of Nellie Hazel. It was puzzling tosay the least but then I read the reports again and found out that Nellie was laid to rest with her sweetheart Albert Thompson. As Albert was buried in section O5 grave no 12, I checked the adjoining records and found
HAZELL, Mary Ellen (Spinster, age 23). Died at drowned at S Bdge; Buried on August 26, 1893 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 13, Section O5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: S.Plot Owner: of . Page No
They are in fact buried side by side
As always, if anyone has any further information on the fire and its aftermath, please contact me.
Notes
Photograph taken 03 March 2005 © Mr James Brown. Source Historic England Archive ref: 197930
Cross Keys Bridge was opened in 1897 as a road and rail hydraulic swing bridge. Two bridges spanning the river Nene had been built previously; the first by Thomas Telford, was opened in 1830-1 and the second in 1850. The current Cross Keys Bridge replaced the latter bridge and was used for both road and rail traffic. It cost £80,000 and is made of steel, iron and wood. When the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway closed in 1965 the tracks were converted to road use and Cross Keys Bridge became just a road bridge.
Sources
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 24th August 1893
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 25th August 1893
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated 28th August 1893
Sheffield Indexers
UK Census
This page was last updated on 27/09/23 07:31