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Statue for young blast victims

Tom Rowley
14/ 3/2007

A CAMPAIGN is being mounted to commemorate the lives of children killed in a World War One blast.

Seven children from St Peter's Primary in Ashton were among 46 killed by an explosion at a factory which made TNT for bombs.

The blast injured 500 and made 2,000 homeless 90 years ago this summer.

The pupils were walking home from school on Victoria Street. The blast was said to have been heard 20 miles away, with windows smashed in Dukinfield.

The Hooley Hill Rubber and Chemical Company used to be based on Williams Street in Ashton's West End.

Pupils are rehearsing for two concerts at their school as well as a musical - Blast! - at Stamford High School, to be performed on 12 July. One recital will coincide with the time of the explosion: 4.22pm on 13 June, 1917.

A brass plaque in the school with the names of the seven children who were killed is the only current memorial, although a campaign is underway to erect a statue on a nearby site.

Sculptor Paul Margetts - whose work includes The Family sculpture in Ashton's Market Square - is to produce artwork with pupils.

Author Beth Williams, whose book The Names on the Wall is based on the explosion, said: "It was an enormous event but there is nothing about it in Portland Basin. The museum says we can have a display but we need artefacts and people to come forward with information and donate artefacts they may have. There is no memorial to the people who died and there should be."

Pupils are writing lyrics for songs with a view to producing a CD. Sales of this and her book -available at Ashton Library - will help pay for the memorial.

"The kids are so excited about it and are fascinated, studying old records and visiting the site of the exploison, walking the streets where the children who were killed would have walked," she said.

"Tameside Local History Forum has been so supportive and drama staff at Stamford High School have really helped in developing the play."