Sometimes the layout of the streets of Swindon has changed so little you can easily visualise a description in the newspaper. I regularly walk down Deacon Street from the cemetery, crossing at the traffic lights on Commercial Road close to the derelict Tented Market building. It does not take a lot of imagination to recreate this location as it was in 1905. Today the busy flow of traffic is one way coming up Farnsby Street and along Commercial Road. And more than 100 years ago it appears it was equally busy on one Saturday in 1905.
Image of Deacon Street published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.
Fatal Accident in Swindon
A Boy Killed
On Saturday about noon a shocking accident happened in Commercial Road, Swindon. A boy named Eyles, whose parents live in Dixon Street, was passing down Deacon Street. When at the corner near the Market Hall, a heavy vehicle drove down Commercial Road. The boy, who is slightly deaf, did not hear the approach of the vehicle, and was knocked down. The wheel went over his chest, and the injuries were so severe that he died shortly afterwards. He received treatment at the GWR Medical Fund Hospital. An inquest was held on Monday at the Mechanics’ Institute, before Mr J.W. Pridham, Deputy Coroner.
The following evidence was taken:
Arthur James Eyles, clerk in the GWR Works, father of the deceased, was the first witness called. He stated that he last saw his son alive at about nine o’clock on Saturday evening.
Benjamin Robert Dixon, 72, Deacon Street, Swindon, a fitter, said he was in Commercial Road when the accident occurred on Saturday about 12 o’clock. He first saw the child running across the road in front of a horse and dray. The horse was going at a jog-trot, and the driver appeared to be driving carefully. The dray was a brewer’s four-wheeled dray, and there were some empty barrels in it. It was going towards Faringdon Street, and was almost in the centre of the road. The child ran off the kerb just as the dray was passing and went under the horse’s head, and was knocked down, the wheels passing over the child’s chest. In witness’s opinion, it would have been impossible to have pulled up the horse in time to save the boy.
Albert Whitbread Fox, labourer in the GWR Works, said he was also in Commercial Road at the time of the accident, and saw the child run in front of the horse. The driver appeared to have control over his horse. Witness ran and picked the child up after the dray went over him, and helped to take deceased to the Medical Fund Hospital. He did not think the child had any reason to run in front of the horse.
Thomas Hunt, carter, in the employ of Messrs Horsell and Marson, of Wootton Bassett, said that on Saturday last about noon he was driving a dray down Commercial Road. The accident occurred at the corner of Deacon Street. The street was rather crowded at the time. The boy rushed across from the kerb and got knocked down by the horse. It was impossible for him to pull up the horse in time.
Dr. G. Rodway Swinhoe stated that he had a telephone message from hospital at about 12.8. He went to the hospital as soon as possible and found the child was dying. Another doctor was present a few minutes before him. On examining the body, he found that wheels had passed over the lower part of the chest, and death was due to shock caused by the accident. No limbs were broken.
A verdict of accidental death was returned.
The Evening Swindon Advertiser, Tuesday, February 14, 1905.
Deacon Street/Commercial Road pictured in 2009.
Seven year old Sydney Albert Eyles, Dixon Street was buried on February 17,1905 in grave plot E7318. Sydney is buried with his parents in a privately purchased grave plot. His mother Margaret Louisa died in January 1913 and his father Arthur James in 1951.
Radnor Street Cemetery 