The London Beer Flood: How Did It Happen?

London’s brewery, The Horse Shoe Brewery’ was the site of an unfortunate incident on October 17, 1814. Due to an unforeseen accident, up to 1,470,000 liters of beer came spilling out into the streets of London, causing widespread chaos, and even leading to the death of several inhabitants in the city. The catastrophic event later became known as The London Beer Flood. This is the story behind the disaster that is now written into London’s history.

The Horse Shoe Brewery was started as ‘The Horseshoe’ in 1623, while Horse Shoe Brewery was established in 1764 and owned by Thomas Fassett. From there it grew to the top fifteen brewery production companies and it changed hands several time. John Stephenson owned it for two years until he died and it went to Edward Biley who took on partners John Blackburn and Edward Gale Bolero. Eventually it was snapped up by Henry Meux, of the Meux Reid of the Griffin Brewery in Clerkenwell.

Sir Henry Meux, was 1st Baronet and born in May 8, 1770. He married Elizabeth-Mary Smith and had four surviving children, one son and three daughters. He had originally been in business with his father who had started Griffin Brewery in Clerkenwell, London. It was there that the largest recorded vat to hold beer was built in 1795 to hold 20,000 barrels. After an argument with his father, Meux left Griffin Brewery to find his own company, The Horse Shoe Brewery. When he later died his son would take over in 1841.

As it continued to grow, the brewery became the sixth largest brewer and by the time the accident took place it was merged with (or acquired by – the records are unclear) with Clowes & Co of Bermondsey.

What Happened on October 17, 1814?

The accident at Meux & Co’s Horse Brewery is better known as the London Beer Flood. Vats that held fermenting beer were made of wood. One of those that was almost 22 feet tall ruptured. A clerk named George Crick saw that one of the hoops had slipped off a batch of porter. These hoops were around 700 lbs. This was something that had occurred previously and could allow pressure to build, and for the integrity of the vats to be compromised. Despite the potential for harm, a supervisor stated that, “no harm whatever would ensure.” 

Within an hour of the hoop slip being noticed the vat exploded. While one would have been bad enough, the initial break caused another vessel to fall, meaning several large barrels were broken and allowed the release of 580,000-1,470,000 liters of beer. It all went flooding to the streets.

This isn’t the only tidal wave of food or drink to result in mass property destruction or casualties. A little over a hundred years later in Boston a 25 foot wave of molasses was released on the North End, killing 21 and injuring 150. Another disaster in 1878 at a flour mill (flour is extremely flammable), caused a spark that set the whole mill ablaze and resulted in an explosion that was felt across Minneapolis.

The London Beer Flood caused several casualties. The initial explosion caused damage to nearby buildings. Unfortunately for a lady nearby named Eleanor Cooper on Great Russell Street, bricks from a nearby wall collapsed on her, probably killing her instantly. She was only fourteen years old. She was one of eight people died as a result of the flood. Others include Mary Mulvey, 30, her son Thomas Murry, 3, Hannah Bamfield, 4, Sarah Bates, 3, Ann Saville, 60, Elizabeth Smith, 27, and Catherine Butler, 65. The coroner who oversaw the inquest was George Hodgson. Gawkers paid to see the vats of beer that caused the destruction and aside from the streets being devastated from the wave of beer, it stank like yeasty stale beer for months.

What Happened After the London Beer Flood?

Industrial accidents on such a level as The London Beer Flood could be tried in a criminal court. The brewery faced legal action, however the accident was thought, as the History Press states, “to be an Act of God, leaving no one responsible.” Not only did this mean that the brewery wasn’t considered responsible for the death and destruction it caused, there was also no compensation for the victims’ families. 

Following the disaster, the brewery was able to get some of the cost of the beer back. The History Press states that they were given a “waiver… from the British Parliament” and about 7,000 pounds for the lost beer, which kept them from becoming bankrupt. Even so, The Horse Shoe Brewery didn’t last. It closed in the 1920s, and was demolished only a year after its closure. Thankfully, perhaps inspired by this event, wooden tanks were later replaced with other materials. Depending on the type of brewery and the cost of materials, tanks are now made from stainless steel, concrete, ceramic, glass, and even plastic.