Take a Minute to Remember the London Beer Flood of 1814

It was on this day, October 17, in 1814 that a devastating flood of beer swept through the peaceful parish of St. Giles in London, England, claiming eight lives.

This is probably the one incident in history where beer killed people without them ever taking a sip.

It was your usual, peaceful day at the Meux and Company Brewery. That is, until one of the vats containing roughly 135,000 imperial gallons (162,128 US gallons) of beer burst open, sending the freshly brewed beer everywhere.

This random accident would set off a chain reaction throughout the brewery, causing the other vats of beer in the facility to rupture as well. The result was a tidal wave of over 323,000 imperial gallons of beer.

The beer quickly burst forth from the brewery, rushing down the streets of the peaceful parish of St. Giles. The wave of beer ended up destroying two homes and collapsing one of the walls at a local pub, trapping one employee underneath the rubble.

Within minutes of the beer vats rupturing, two whole streets where flooded with the escaped alcohol. One mother and her child, who were enjoying their daily tea on one of the streets, where killed by the rush of beer.

The brewery was later taken to court over the incident, but ruled an act of God by the judge and jury.

So on this Friday night, be sure toss one back for the eight people who passed away in the tragic London Beer Flood, which happened exactly 200 years ago today. Below you can find the names of the eight known victims of this freak accident.

Ann Saville - 53

Eleanor Cooper - 15

Hannah Bamfield - 4

Catherine Butler - 63

Elizabeth Smith - 27

Mary Mulvey - 30

Thomas Mulvey - 3

Sean Duggins - 29