Charing Cross roof collapse

On 5 December 1905, the iron-and-glass overall arched roof of London Charing Cross railway station collapsed during a long-term maintenance project, killing six people.

The roof was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw and comprised a single-span trussed arch with wrought iron tie rods.

[1] The apparent collapse of the roof was due to the structural failure of a flawed piece of ironwork.

[1] The station was closed for over three months and during this period the Charing Cross Bridge was also examined and some girders added to reinforce it.

[5] The Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway company – now part of the London Underground's Northern line – was able to take advantage of this closure when constructing its Charing Cross Underground station, making a large excavation in the main-line station's forecourt that would not have been allowed otherwise.