The next place on my list of places to visit was the Abbey Pumping station. As it was in a pretty easy walk as well as knowing someone who can show me how to get there for future reference. The building was mentioned on the councils website as having a history still 'living alive' there in a sence that its reputidly haunted by a former employee who fell to his death there in 1890 off of the top balcony falling 50 feet. Now a museum, it was previously a pumping station used to pump sewage to treatment works at Beaumont Leys, and was opened in 1891. The grand Victorian building, designed by Stockdale Harrison (city architect in 1890) and beautifully decorated beam engines were a cause of great civic pride. It continued pumping Leicester's sewage until 1964, and then underwent renovation. It opened as a museum in 1972.
The ghost that is said to haunt the location is that of the only known fatal casualty whilst building the Abbey Pumping Station. The death happened just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday 26th August 1890 when Robert Richardson a 43 year old labourer who was working as an engineering labourer for the main contractors, Gimson Ironfounders of Vulcan Road Leiceter. At the time 2 hours overtime was being worked each day in order for the building and engines to be completed on time, when he missed his footing on scaffolding in the roof and fell some 45 feet (14 Metres) sustaining internal injuries. At the time he was marking some ironwork with red lead. A doctor was called and Robert was rushed to the Leicester Royal Infirmary where he died from his injuries two days later with his wife at his bedside. Sadly, injuries that by today's improved medical standards and hygiene could have been treated.
The inquest was published in the Leicester mercury on 30th August 1890. maybe i could see if i could find a copy or print of it anywhere?
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