The conventional histories of the Tay Bridge have focused understandably on the dramatic collapse of the first edifice in 1879 and the deaths then. Various aspects of what was an engineering project of international professional and public interest have been neglected. The construction of the two Tay Bridges (the original that collapsed, and its immediate replacement) took place over several years, leading to a major industrial site at Dundee. The ancient office of Coroner had fallen into desuetude and, in the absence of any substituting legal intervention, the deaths individually or collectively over the whole project on or near the industrial site were not investigated for consideration at any public inquiry, or as matters of general health and safety concern. Sudden and accidental deaths looked into by the police force were reported to the relevant Procurator Fiscal for the area. The result then was merely a confidential administrative disposal.
Robert S. Shiels (Wed,) studied this question.