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Martha Eyre

Age: 68

Sex: female

Date: 24 Oct 1916

Place: Sadler Gate, Derby, Derbyshire

Martha Eyre was knocked down by a cyclist in Sadler Gate, Derby on the night of 12 October 1916 and taken to the Union Workhouse Infirmary where she died on 24 October 1916.

Her cause of death was given as being due to shock due to a fracture of the left thigh. However, it was heard that there were no marks on her body such that might have been expected due to contact with a bicycle.

After the collision, the cyclist, who was said to have remained near the scene of the accident for a few minutes, rode off and was not later traced. The police said that they had made efforts to find the cyclist but without success. The only description that they had of him was that he was about 16 years old and had been wearing a cap and leggings.

Martha Eyre's daughter said that Martha Eyre had just stepped off the pavement at about 7.15pm just opposite the shop of Messrs Gilbeys, the spirit merchants, when she was knocked down. She said that Martha Eyre had just put her foot on the pavement when a youth, about 16 years old, came up behind them on a bicycle, the front part of which hit Martha Eyre who then reeled and fell into the gutter.

She said that she then picked Martha Eyre up and sent a boy that was near them off for a cab and then had Martha Eyre conveyed home. However, she said that Martha Eyre complained of her left leg paining her and on the Friday she send for a doctor who determined that her leg was broken and ordered her to the Union Workhouse Infirmary where she later died.

She noted that she could not be sure whether the cycle had had lights but said that a boy that was near her at the time had told her that it had none.

She added that she didn't know of the youth's approach on his bicycle until he collided with Martha Eyre.

An open verdict was returned at the inquest.

Martha Eyre had lived at 24 Pelham Street in Derby and had been the wife of a blacksmith although they had been living apart at the time.


*map pointers are rough estimates based on known location details as per Place field above.

see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

see Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - Friday 03 November 1916

see Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - Saturday 04 November 1916

see Derby Daily Telegraph - Wednesday 25 October 1916

see Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 30 October 1916