SEVEN decades have now passed since the blast furnace disaster at Consett steelworks, which claimed the lives of 11 men.

Without warning, thick clouds of odourless, colourless and poisonous carbon monoxide leaked from one of the furnaces, rendering workers unconscious.

Some fell at their station, while others tried to crawl to safety along the ground.

It was July 1, 1950, prior to nationalisation, when the plant was still known as Consett Iron Company.

The disaster had a devastating effect on the town, which had been built around the industry little more than a century earlier.

As well as the eleven men who perished, 34 were knocked out by the gas and, of those, 28 were treated at Shotley Bridge Hospital nearby.

The Northern Echo: How the Northern Echo reported the tragedy, and right, the blast furnaces pictured around 40 years ago when the steelworks was closedHow the Northern Echo reported the tragedy, and right, the blast furnaces pictured around 40 years ago when the steelworks was closed

There are now plans to create a lasting tribute to all of those who died over the years while working at the steelworks, which closed 40 years ago in September.

Project Genesis, Derwent Valley Area Action Partnership and Durham County Councillors are funding a £35,000 memorial near the Tesco superstore where the blast furnaces once stood.

Project Genesis chairman John O’Connor said: “There is currently not a memorial to people who died in the steelworks.

“We don’t know how many people died exactly but we think there was quite a few over the 140 years.”

The Northern Echo: The blast furnaces pictured at around the time the steelworks closed, 40 years ago in September The blast furnaces pictured at around the time the steelworks closed, 40 years ago in September

The memorial was supposed to have been unveiled yesterday, to mark the 70th anniversary of the disaster, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is expected to be unveiled later in the summer.

Project Genesis has been working with Consett and District Heritage Initiative on the memorial and a smaller plaque is also being installed in Consett and Blackhill Park.

Initiative founder Brian Harrison said: “Within the town itself the disaster still rocks people because it is in living memory.

“There are still family members who were around and remember what happened.

“It is still there in the back of people’s minds that it happened.

“The thing is people remember all of the accidents that happened in the coal mines, but nothing when it came to The Works.

“Hundreds of guys died there in all kinds of accidents and none of that is ever commemorated.

“I find it a crying shame that for a town of steelmen there is no memorial for those who lost their lives.

“This is not just about the 11 who died that day but everyone who lost their life working at the steelworks.

“When you look at it in its entirety there was probably more than in the pits.”

Meanwhile, the team at History of Consett Steelworks, a website recording pictures, videos and information about ‘The Company’ is appealing for people to contribute for an album dedicated to the disaster.

Group spokesman Richard Judd said: “We would like to make this an album to remember those that died in the accident in 1950. If your family lost someone please do get in contact so we can add a picture if you have one of the family member.”

Email: historyofconsettsteelworks@gmail.com