We remember the devastating Coventry gas explosion that destroyed the house 50 years ago

It is half a century this week since a devastating incident in Coventry made national headlines. The Ashorne Close gas explosion on 20 May 1974 was described as “just like a bomb”.

Plumber Gilbert Binns, 42, was in the process of moving from his former council house to a larger house in the same street. But a neighbor mentioned that there was a smell of gas in the old property. So he went to investigate and – because there was no electricity – struck a match to see what it did.

That split second led to huge consequences. Mr Binns was thrown backwards against a wall and, according to a fireman who soon arrived at the scene, was seen “running down the street with his clothes on fire”.

The windows of the property were blown out and the roof sustained substantial damage. Fortunately, Mr Binns recovered following hospital treatment and no one else was seriously injured. You can see the aftermath of the explosion in the images below. CoventryLive took an in-depth look at this incident in 2021 – read more here.

You can also see more nostalgia content here. Do you remember the Ashorne Close gas explosion? Share your memories in the comments.

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