Shrewsbury market hall anniversary to remember tragic worker
The anniversary of Shrewsbury Market Hall will be marked with a celebration this week – but there will also be a moment to remember a man who lost his life as the project took shape.
Work to demolish the old Victorian hall to make way for the new building took a tragic turn when a cellar floor collapsed, trapping workmen under hundreds of tons of building debris.
One workman, Kenneth 'Ginger' Cooper, was killed and four others were injured.
Work had begun months previously to demolish the town's original Victorian market hall, which had stood since 1869. By June 1963 the Mardol end of the market hall had been rebuilt and traders and shopkeepers had moved in. Attention was then turned to the Bellstone end of the building and it was during this work that the tragedy happened.
The market cellars were cleared of rubble and it was during the demolition of a floor that the accident happened on June 28, 1963.
Father-of-two Mr Cooper, of Stoke-on Trent, died lost his life in the accident, but he was also hailed a hero because his warning call of the building rumble saved the lives of his colleagues. Kenneth Davies fractured his feet, Jock Miller suffered a fractured pelvis, Alan Dobson had a thigh injury and George Arnold had a fractured knee.
Emergency services worked for more than two hours to try and recover Mr Cooper. It was one of the biggest rescue operations to be staged in Shropshire, but their efforts were in vain.
Mr Cooper was only in his 30s and was the father of two young daughters. It was believed that the collapse was caused by the vibrations of a tup - a heavy piece of machinery that was used on the demolition. Mr Cooper is thought to have been working down in a tunnel and the market hall floor collapsed on top of him.
The men were among a team from The Potteries who were employed to demolish the old market hall and who were earning upwards of £12 per week depending on the work they carried out. Debris was sold for between 5s and 15s a ton depending on the quality.
Mr Cooper had had a lucky escape 18 months previously and at the same site when a load of rubble smashed in to the cab of a bulldozer he was driving almost slicing it in half. He was unhurt. Mr Cooper did all kinds of work on site including labouring as well as driving machines.
Civic leaders to join milestone celebrations
Civic leaders and Shropshire's Lord Lieutenant will join market traders and members of the public for the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Shrewsbury Market Hall.
The celebrations on Wednesday will be led by Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow, the Lord Lieutenant Sir Algernon Heber-Percy and Shrewsbury Mayor Councillor Miles Kenny.
Events will begin at 11.30am and will include roof-top tours, exhibitions, live music and an official toast.
Councillor Barrow will unveil a plaque commemorating the anniversary in a ceremony taking place at noon in the undercroft entrance to the market, between Claremont Street and Shoplatch.
The majority of the Market Hall building is managed by Shropshire Council and the indoor market is jointly run with Shrewsbury Town Council. Market facilities manager Kate Gittins said: "We are looking forward to this important occasion for the Market Hall which has begun a new chapter in its history. We hope as many people as possible will join us to celebrate. Shrewsbury has been a market town for 1,000 years and today its main market is still popular and thriving."
Helen Ball, Shrewsbury Town Council clerk, said: "Love it or hate it, the Market Hall has played a prominent role in the town not just in terms of its visual presence but also the fact that it is the focus of such activity with the successful market being based there. It's the very reason we are a Market Town. We are delighted that we can take part in celebrating its 50th Anniversary and as this building enters a new era of also being the base for our new students at the University Centre we look forward to welcoming new people to enjoy what it has to offer."
The Market Hall was designed by a leading architect of his day, David du Rieu Aberdeen, who also designed buildings in London, including the TUC headquarters Congress House. It replaced the Victorian market hall which had stood on the site for 96 years until it was condemned as no longer fit for purpose. The new building, which took two years to build, was officially opened on September 16, 1965 by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire Viscount Bridgeman.
Town guide and local historian Stan Sedman will lead roof-top tours of the Market Hall at 11.30am, 12.30pm 1.30pm and 2.30pm, giving people a rare chance to see panoramic views of the town.
The Shropshire Visual Art Network has organised an exhibition of the history of the building and its site through artworks, photographs, stories and archived material. The Market Buffet café will be laying on a celebratory lunch for customers between noon and 2pm.
To book a roof-top tour contact market facilities manager Kate Gittins at Kate.Gittins@shropshire.gov.uk or call (01743) 351067.
