Published in Windlesora 26 (2010)
© WLHG
Two days before Christmas in 1844 a dreadful accident occurred at the theatre, when 63-year-old Sarah Hume was killed. Mrs Hume with her husband and daughter had planned to spend the evening out and when they had the tickets, Laura Hume hurried up the stairs to secure their seats, in those days benches, in the gallery. She sat in the front row, but while her mother was clambering over the bench behind to join her she caught her hip on the edge of the balcony, and with her hands inside her cloak, couldn’t save herself. She gave a cry then toppled over the balcony, turning a complete somersault before landing on her back across three seats. In horror Laura rushed downstairs, meeting her father on the way down. They found Mrs Hume near to death, her spine shattered.
Next day a coroner’s inquest brought in a verdict of accidental death and thought that with the height of the balcony being little more than two and a half feet it was surprising that such an accident had not happened before. The jury passed a recommendation that a railing be installed to prevent further such accidents, which the Manager promised to do. That railing, which might have saved Mrs Hume’s life, can be seen in the photo of the burnt-out theatre.
The Times newspaper, reporting the inquest on Christmas Day, expressed amazement that ‘notwithstanding the lamentable and fatal catastrophe’, a few minutes after the removal of the body the curtain drew up as if nothing had happened. Though the audience was sparse they were presented with a ‘diverting exhibition of the German dwarfs, a comic song, and the laughable farce of The Young Scamp, or my Grandmother’s Pet’.
Hester Davenport
References
The Times 25 December 1844
Windsor & Eton Express 28 December 1844
Windsor Local History Group 