Did dodgy Victorian workmanship lead to chapel collapse?

"The end of a beam had snapped off, at the loading point it rested on the wall and joined to a strut supporting the roof. Not only was the beam much narrower than others in the roof, it seemed the connecting bolt had been put in at an angle when it was constructed in 1844. The end of the bolt was an inch from the edge of the timber, creating a weak point."

"Part of the ceiling had fallen in, with cracks making a jigsaw of the rest. The full height of the chapel had been divided horizontally in the past to make a more usable and energy-efficient space. The first job was to get access, which they managed through a cupboard."

Cottage Green Chapel in Camberwell, a Victorian-era structure standing for over 180 years, experienced a significant roof collapse when part of its ceiling fell in, prompting investigation into the cause. The chapel, used by various community groups and owned by the Well Community Church, had undergone internal modifications to create a divided space. Upon examination by Julian Marriott, a congregation member with building trade experience, the collapse was traced to a structural defect originating from the chapel's 1844 construction. A beam supporting the roof was narrower than others, and critically, the connecting bolt had been installed at an angle, positioning its end dangerously close to the timber's edge. This poor construction technique created a weak point that eventually failed, causing the beam to snap at its loading point.

Read at www.bbc.com