August is supposed to be hot and dry so you could be forgiven for thinking this August was the coldest and wettest on record. However, August 1912 easily takes the award.
Mile Drove looking towards Nine Bridges – flooded to a depth of 4ft with ferocious whirlpools around arches
August 1912 was, without doubt, the worst summer month on record. With an average temperature of only 12.9°C, it was the coldest August since records began in 1659. London enjoyed only one day over 21°C, and Birmingham never exceeded 19°C, frosts were recorded in Devon and Shropshire. However, it was the torrential rain that bought chaos to the region; there were many days when over one inch of rain fell. On the 26th a deepening depression bought severe weather to East Anglia when over six inches of rain fell in 24 hours in Norwich. The floods that followed were the worst ever seen in East Anglia, Norwich was cut off for two days, with 40 bridges destroyed and flooding 15 feet deep in places.
The local newspapers reported that over a ten day period 5 inches of rain fell in Peterborough, over twice the normal monthly total. The Times of August 27th 1912 recorded that the floods at Peterborough Town Bridge were 7ft above normal, and there was considerable concern for the safety of the bridge. Extensive flooding was reported in the City, especially around the river.
Land between Peakirk and Deeping St James was flooded to a depth of 5ft, and urgent reinforcing work was undertaken to prevent the Folly bursting its banks. The road into Peakirk from Glinton was under 18 inches of water. In Glinton, floodwaters reached the road behind the church, flooding houses in North Fen and Lincoln Road. Land surrounding Nine Bridges was flooded to a depth of 4ft, and torrents of water with ferocious whirlpools were reported around the arches of the bridge. The road between Helpston and Maxey was impassable with over 4 feet of floodwater.
The Great Flood of 1912 was followed by a dry summer in 1913 - so maybe 2009 will be better?
Flooding in Northborough
Pictures courtesy of the Ingram’s Family
Author: Bob Randall
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