The Maidstone Journal of 26th July 1900, gives details of the ceremony at St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, for the laying of the foundation stone for the new gasometer, which was being built on land adjoining the Maidstone Gas Company’s works. The ceremony performed by George Marsham. Several directors of the company were present; Mr Smythe – Manager, Mr Hickmott – Collector and others. At the ceremony, George Marsham was presented with a silver trowel by the contractor and afterwards, they enjoyed  luncheon at the company’s board room at the gas works.

During the construction of the gasometer, a young man named Harry  Kerton, was fatally injured on 12th March 1901 , when he fell through an aperture in the roof on to a cement floor, 35 feet below. He sustained numerous injuries, breaking his arms, shoulder and leg, he sadly died on the following Sunday. Harry fell into some water, between the brickwall and iron meter. Another man named Barmer, slid down  a scaffold pole and rescued him from drowning.  Harry Kerton was a native of Armley, near Leeds.

At the inquest held on 19th March at the hospital by the Borough Coroner Mr R. T. Tatham, ex Superintendent Dalton was chosen as foreman of the Jury. Mr Smythe and Mr Robert Hoar represented the Maidstone Gas Company. The following evidence was given by various witnesses:-

John Richard Kerton identified the deceased as his son, who was 19 years of age and stated he was employed by Messrs Clayton and Co. as a holder-up of rivets. Messrs Clayton of Leeds, Yorkshire were the construction company of the gasometer.  Albert Britten deposed that he was working at the gasometer and the accident occurred about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and he witnessed the deceased falling on to the concrete flooring on which the gasometer was to be placed. He at once informed Mr Ashmell, of the accident and went to the gas house to call for a  doctor.  Mr Ashmell, the foreman in charge of the works, stated that some may regard the work, Kerton was doing was dangerous, but very few accidents occurred. The deceased was a journeyman and experienced at his work. He had been removing some plates off the top of the gasometer, but left it, to attend to a guide rope and then returned to where he had moved the plates, and fell through the hole. Plates were removed to allow light into the structure, as men were working inside. He had left the deceased only half a minute, and at first could not believe, it was he who had fallen. He stated he must have been on the wrong side of the hole, the men were instructed to go on the lower side. The construction was not slippery and the men were continually walking on it. The deceased had fallen on to the concrete floor and then rolled into about a foot of water.

Mr Dalton, the Jury foreman, asked Mr Ashmell, why no guard was placed round the hole, when a plate was removed to prevent anyone falling. In reply, he stated it was not customary, to do so. Mr Dalton stated he thought the work looked dangerous and if the plates were constantly shifted. Mr Ashmell replied, that he had many years of experience and had never heard of such a case before and that the deceased had removed the plate, himself, only a few minutes before.

Dr Krumbholz, the house surgeon at the hospital, stated that on admittance, Harry Kerton was suffering from severe shock. He never regained consciousness and was incomprehensible. He was bruised above the right eye and death was caused by brain injury. His right femur and right forearm were fractured and there were additional injuries. The Coroner, in summing up, stated Mr Dalton’s questions were proper but the “poor fellow had himself moved the plate, and must therefore have known of the danger.” After careful consideration for both parties, the employer and employees, he thought the Jury would agree that this was a “pure and simple” accident. The deceased was engaged in his regular calling and had opened the hole, himself. The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

Mrs Kerton, the mother of the deceased, expressed the opinion that the top of the holders were very slippery and she thought planks should be put round a hole, when a plate was removed. It could be easily done, and if a man then slipped, he would not fall down the hole. Her son never wore nailed boots. Mr Ashmell said he would do everything, he could, that the Jury thought fit, but as there were men working inside the gasometer, engaged in rivetting the roof, if all the holes were closed, it would shut out the light, and the work would be more dangerous.

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