Launch of HMS Albion at Blackwall (1898)

E.P. Prestwich's footage of the launch of the battleship HMS Albion on 21 June 1898 looks deceptively serene and gentle. What it doesn't show is that when the ship hit the water for the first time, it created a wave that swept away a jetty, drowning an estimated 39 people in the process, one of the worst peacetime disasters in the Thames's history.

The film is included in the new BFI DVD 'Tales from the Shipyard', featuring over five hours of documentary film revealing the history of British shipbuilding with many rare and little known titles: http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/...

The BFI Southbank special event 'The Tragic Launch of HMS Albion' explores the event, its filming, and the attendant controversies: http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_sou...

'Selections from This Working Life: Tales from the Shipyard will be shown in cinemas at BFI Southbank, Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema, Glasgow Film Theatre and Belfast's Queen's Film Theatre, presenting newly restored feature films, non-fiction and television material - all captured by filmmakers across a century.

All titles on the BFI Films channel are preserved in the vast collections of the BFI National Archive. To find out more about the Archive visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collect...

• Category

  Film & Animation

[BFIfilms]

Thanks for all your comments - the high resolution is due to the original being shot on 60mm film. Before 35mm became the industry standard there were several companies producing large format films, several examples of which survive in the BFI National Archive.

The flag is indeed the English flag, not the white ensign, which she would only have flown once properly fitted out. You'll notice she has no engines and no funnels at this point.

Bryony Dixon - Curator (Silent Film)

[fordlandau]

Fantastic. The whole ship is seen here. Foreshortening means the stern looks very small. Look at where the chains are attached to stabilize the ship for point of reference. Love bfi films.

[Valerie Bird]

Amazing footage! My Grandfather served on HMS Albion in 1912

[Jan Groom]

Fantastic piece of film. My great grandparents were involved in the disaster following this launch. They were both rescued from the water but my great grandmother died a week later. Her name is on The Albion Memorial.

[GeneralArmorus]

LANDMASS MOVING! Is it just me or that shore or island on the right side is too close to ship's path?

[ancalites]

amazing footage

[Nairuulagch]

Woow I am so envied of British film treasure you are so lucky having chance of preserving your history!!

[robcmoseley]

What interests me here is the cramped location of the launch. The Albion was a big ship, yet it looks as if it is being floated on a puddle!

[menacinghat]

we can't even afford these anymore. All thrown to scrap,yet cameron wants to join a war in libya.

i'm happy to be a quaint island. We wont be a hated nation like the americans as our army slowly ends.

[chanctonbury63]

Apparently more than 30 people died when a stage collapsed during the launch.

[madbob73]

Interesting that there is what appears to be an English flag flying from the ship but I believe that its actually a white ensign, its just unable to be seen on this film - I wonder if the restoration team failed to pick that up?