In 1814 a vat at a London brewery burst, setting off a chain reaction that released more than half a million litres of porter into the streets of St Giles. Eight people died in the flood.

The London Beer Flood, 17 October 1814

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Why it matters

The idea in context

The Horse Shoe Brewery on Tottenham Court Road kept its porter in enormous wooden vats bound with iron hoops. One hoop failed, the vat gave way, and the surge knocked over its neighbours. The beer flattened two houses and flooded the cellars of a poor neighbourhood where families lived below street level. The brewery was taken to court and the disaster was ruled an act of God, so nobody paid. The Dominion Theatre stands on the site today.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

1814'te bir Londra bira fabrikasındaki fıçı patladı ve zincirleme bir tepkiyle St Giles sokaklarına yarım milyon litreden fazla porter salındı. Selde sekiz kişi öldü.
Londra Bira Seli, 17 Ekim 1814

Tottenham Court Road'daki Horse Shoe Bira Fabrikası porterini demir çemberlerle bağlanmış devasa ahşap fıçılarda tutuyordu. Bir çember koptu, fıçı çöktü ve dalga komşularını devirdi. Bira iki evi yerle bir etti ve ailelerin sokak seviyesinin altında yaşadığı yoksul bir mahallenin bodrumlarını doldurdu. Bira fabrikası mahkemeye verildi ve felaket ilahi takdir sayıldı, böylece kimse ödemedi. Bugün alanda Dominion Tiyatrosu duruyor.

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Background reading: London Beer FloodAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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