12 AUGUST 1843, Page 12

A "terrific explosion " startled the inhabitants of Clerkenwell about

nine o'clock last night : the pavement in Middieton Street was torn up and the report was heard as far as King's Cross, half-a-mile off. It is supposed that gas had escaped into the sewer, and had by some means ignited. Several windows were forced in, and in all about forty houses were more or less shaken and damaged by the concussion. No one was seriously hurt.