North Inch disaster
Illustration showing the aftermath of the collapse | |
| Date | 1 August 1903 |
|---|---|
| Time | 14:55 local time |
| Venue | North Inch |
| Location | Perth, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°24′10″N 3°25′51″W / 56.4027°N 3.4309°W |
| Type | Stand collapse |
| Cause | Overburdened end of stand caused total collapse of inadequate load-bearing trusses; design failed to account for non-uniform load |
| Deaths | None |
| Non-fatal injuries | 150+ |
| Inquiries | December 1903 |
| Verdict | Contractor at fault |
The North Inch Disaster was a collapse of a stand on the North Inch in Perth during a Scottish County Championship derby match between Perthshire and Forfarshire.
As was the case for many large events on the North Inch at the time, a temporary stand was erected to accommodate a section of the 5,000-strong crowd in the morning, increasing during the afternoon. At the time of the collapse, it was estimated that there were 488 people seated in the grandstand.
Eyewitness reports suggested the stand began to sway before the entire structure collapsed within seconds. Some of the most severely injured had fallen from the top of the stand, a height of over 30 feet (9.1 m).
The North Inch Disaster occurred just over a year after a similar stand collapse at Ibrox, with questions raised about how such an event could have been allowed to be repeated.