Garrick Theatre fire facts for kids
In 1916, a sad event happened at the Garrick Theatre in Hereford, England. Eight children who were performing in a show died in a fire. One of their costumes caught fire as they were leaving the stage.
The Garrick Theatre
The theatre was built in 1882. In 1909, it was renamed after David Garrick. He was a famous actor and theatre manager born in Hereford in 1717.
The Charity Concert
In 1916, during World War I, a special concert was held. It was to raise money for soldiers from the local Herefordshire and Shropshire regiments. Many local schoolchildren, over forty of them, performed in the show.
They wore costumes that looked like snow maidens and Eskimos. These costumes were partly made from cotton wool. Even though cotton wool was known to be a fire risk, it was still used.
As a group of 13 children were leaving the stage, one of their costumes suddenly caught fire. In just a few moments, all 13 children's costumes were burning. People from the show and the audience tried to help. Sadly, six children died that night. Two more children later died from their injuries.
What Happened Next
After the fire, an investigation was held to find out what caused it. People gave different stories about what they saw. The person who organized the concert said she saw someone smoking backstage. But theatre staff and others said no one was smoking. In the end, it was decided that the deaths were accidental.
Remembering the Children
A funeral for five of the children was held at Hereford Cathedral. Many people came to show their respect. Soldiers helped carry the coffins. The girls were buried at Hereford Cemetery. However, the exact spot of their graves is not known today.
In September 1916, people in Hereford decided to create a special memorial. They wanted to raise money to set up a memorial cot (a small bed) in the Children's Ward of Herefordshire General Hospital. They raised more money than they needed! The cot and a memorial plaque were officially revealed in April 1917.
The theatre was rebuilt later in 1916, but it was later taken down. Today, another plaque on Widemarsh Street marks where the theatre used to be. It also mentions the fire.
Local people wanted a lasting memorial near the theatre's old spot. This led to Hereford Cathedral commissioning a new memorial plaque. It was made of lead and put up on March 15, 2018. You can see this plaque in the cathedral's Lady Arbour Cloister.
