Death of a Parachutist

20/08/1895

Information

Many people in Fletton Recreation Ground watched as a balloon, controlled from the ground by Alfred Norton, rose into the sky. In the balloon's basket was Alfred's partner, 36-year-old Annie Bassett. All were waiting for Annie to jump wearing a form of parachute. Annie came from the East End of London and was an experienced parachutist, having made thirty such jumps before. The plan was for her to ascend in the balloon and jump off wearing the parachute. However, something went wrong and Annie tragically fell to her death. At the inquest that followed, Alfred - who was described as a professional aeronaut - stated that when he gave to order to loosen the balloon, it rose, but not far enough to clear a tree and telegraph wires. With the balloon entangled, the parachute device worn by Annie became detached from the balloon. Alfred stated that he tried to stop Annie from jumping but that she, it appeared, misunderstood him. She leapt from a height of about 7o yards and 'directly appeared to reach the ground'. The jurymen sitting at this inquest recommended 'that since no useful purpose is served by these senseless exhibitions at which the lives of the performers are risked, they should be made illegal'. (Family History Magazine)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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The Building of the Queensgate Centre

1978

Information

The Queensgate Centre was designed by Keith Maplestone the Development Corporation Architect and the main contractor was John Laing Construction Ltd.

Initially there were two problems. For the project to proceed five major space users were needed and the contractor had to overcome the technical difficulties of constructing a basement with approximately 1 km of walling in an area of many old buildings.

Eventually all the major space users were signed up: John Lewis Partnership, British Home Stores, C and A, Littlewoods and Boots, so the project could proceed.

A special method was devised to provide the basement; it was called a diaphragm wall and consisted of piling 950mm diameter bores into the ground in panels approximately 10m long and going down 13m. On the completion the soil within the wall was removed and a concrete floor, service cores and a ramp was constructed.

In the spring of 1978 the project started. The site which had been partly open car parks, old factory and shop buildings was now clear and flat. The site offices were constructed against the newly moved Bourges Boulevard roundabout. Dark green hoardings with a yellow band at the top were erected around the site.

The excavators and cart-away lorries arrived and began to dig the site to level, and cart away thousands of M3 of spoil from excavations which were deposited on the south side of the Longthorpe Parkway adjacent to the rowing lake. This area is now wooded and is approximately 7m higher than its natural level.

Queensgate consists of four buildings.

John Lewis is a reinforced concrete building constructed separately from the rest of the centre.

The Malls, central area and east end (Boots) structure is all founded on bored piles and pile caps.

The car parks are reinforced concrete structures.

The bus station is made of structural steel and glass.

The Westgate elevation (John Lewis) is clad in Williamson Cliff hand made yellow bricks including many of special shape.

Long Causeway Elevation is made of white Portland limestone cladding i.e. stone sheets fixed to the structure using metal ties.

The basement was excavated and a temporary scaffold bridge was provided to allow pedestrians to pass from the Westgate Arcade to Cumbergate.

Reinforced concrete columns rose and stair and lift towers appeared. The concrete upper floor slabs were poured onto moulds called waffles. Brickwork began to be built and gradually Queensgate took shape and became watertight, it was time for the fitting out to take place. The malls received a marble floor, ceilings went in and glass balustrades were erected around the balconies and escalators and lifts were installed.

Queensgate was opened in 1982.