What happened at Abbeystead?
What happened at Abbeystead?
The Abbeystead disaster occurred on the evening of 23 May 1984 when a methane gas explosion destroyed a waterworks’ valve house at Abbeystead, Lancashire, England, killing 16 people. Eight were killed instantly by the explosion, and the others were severely injured.
When was the Abbeystead disaster?
23 May 1984
On Wednesday 23 May 1984, a group of 44 people was assembled in a valve house set into a hillside at the outfall end of the Lune/Wyre Transfer Scheme at Abbeystead.
Who died at Abbeystead?
Abbeystead Disaster – the scene after the explosion which destroyed the pumping station. The Duke of Westminster. Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, a close friend of the Royal Family, died on Tuesday afternoon aged 64, having suddenly become ill while walking in the Trough of Bowland.
Who owns Abbeystead house?
Hugh Grosvenor
The Grosvenor family own the 23,000 acre Abbeystead Estate. Hugh Grosvenor became the 7th Duke of Westminster and Britain’s youngest billionaire, after inheriting his title at the age of 25 when his father Gerald died in August 2016.
Who lives in Abbeystead house?
The Grosvenor family own the 23,000 acre Abbeystead Estate. Hugh Grosvenor became the 7th Duke of Westminster and Britain’s youngest billionaire, after inheriting his title at the age of 25 when his father Gerald died in August 2016.
Where is the Abbeystead estate?
Lancashire
Situated in the Trough of Bowland, Lancashire, Abbeystead is a traditional rural estate renowned for its grouse moor and private, non-commercial, pheasant shoot and consists of heather moorland and upland hill farms that principally farm beef, sheep and dairy.
Who owns Reay estate?
A friend of the Royal family, he became the sixth Duke of Westminster in 1979, also taking over the 96,000 acre Reay Forest Estate in Sutherland. Married to Natalia, the couple have four children including his only son, Hugh Grosvenor, 25, who is heir to the dukedom and is also Prince George’s youngest godfather.
How common are natural gas explosions?
Across the U.S. there are about 286 serious natural gas explosions per year—the type that cause over $50,000 worth of damage, severe injury, or loss of life. Between 1998 and 2017, 15 people per year on average died in incidents related to gas distribution in the U.S.
How much natural gas does it take to explode?
Natural gas is only explosive when mixed in the air at a concentration between 5 and 15 percent. When it leaks into an enclosed space, like a basement, it can be a serious problem. And leaks that find their way into sewer lines also present potential hazards.
Who owns Grosvenor Estate?
Grosvenor Group
| Type | Family-owned private limited company |
|---|---|
| Total assets | US$63.7 billion (2017) |
| Owner | Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, and family |
| Number of employees | 10,800 (2016) |
| Parent | Grosvenor Estate |
Who owns the Abbeystead estate?
The Grosvenor family
What was the date of the Abbeystead disaster?
The Abbeystead disaster occurred on the evening of 23 May 1984 when a methane gas explosion destroyed a waterworks’ valve house at Abbeystead, Lancashire, England.
Where did the gas from the Abbeystead explosion come from?
The methane had been displaced from a void which had formed in the Abbeystead end of the Wyresdale Tunnel during a period of 7 days before the explosion when no water was pumped through the system.
When was the Abbeystead valve house officially opened?
However, a tragic accident in 1984 means that the name of Abbeystead is now well-known to many. The Abbeystead valve house was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1980, widely celebrated as an incredible feat of engineering.
What did Oliver Chippendale do in the Abbeystead disaster?
Oliver Chippendale, the supervisor of a pumping station on the River Lune had received a telephone call from George Lacey, the NWWA district manager conducting the tour, asking him to commence pumping, and a second call 5 minutes later saying that no water was coming through and to activate a second, larger, pump.