Worsley Hotel fire

The Worsley Hotel Fire (December 13th, 1974) was a major fire at the Worsley hotel in Maida Vale, London, that killed 7 people, including a probationary firefighter. The story of the fire was recorded by Gordon Honeycombe in his book, Red Watch, and by former London firefighter Neil Wallington, in his book Fireman! A personal account.

A kitchen porter, Edward Mansfield, aged 41, was charged at the Old Bailey on 10 July 1975, with three cases of arson (one at the Worsley Hotel on 13 December and two at the Piccadilly Hotel on 19 and 29 December) and the murders of seven people, including a fireman, at the Worsley Hotel. He pleaded not guilty. On 23 July the jury failed to reach the required majority verdict and were discharged. The re-trial of Mansfield at the Old Bailey on the same charges began on 12 November 1975. John Mathew was again the prosecuting counsel. It ended on 1 December. Mansfield was found guilty of the manslaughter of seven people, including Fireman Pettit, and of three charges of arson. He was gaoled for life.