The 19th century......Weather Extremes in Worcestershire and Beyond Part 3......!

[ANYWEATHER]

September 4th 1852. The city of Worcester and the Western parts of the county were visited by a Tornado. It was said to be the worst in living memory. The Parapets of the Laugherne bridge were swept away. The swirling winds lasted throughout the storm ,and a large hay rick was carried over several hedges and deposited in a neighbours field nearly a quarter of a mile away...The high walls surrounding the garden of Hopton Court were destroyed by the Tornado and flood.

November 12th 1852:- Torrential rainstorms lashed Herefordshire during this November, bringing in their wake flooding and a trail of destruction. The Welsh border and up through the Welsh Marches were the worst affected area with Ludlow under water,houses flooded and farmers reflecting on the high prices the waterlogged fields would impose on root crops. The Herefordshire gasworks was flooded and the mail from Worcester to Leominster had to be diverted via Malvern. It was a month to remember, with stories of difficulties on the roads and of tragic drownings. 

July 7th 1872:- On this day, residents of Felton ,Herefordshire felt something ominous was on the way. A Tornado developed amidst a unsettling and developing thunderstorm, after a week of intense heat.,roofs were ripped of houses, windows were blown out and many trees were destroyed. 

December 1879:- After on of the coldest recorded spells of weather of the century, surpassed  in severity only by the famous Thames frost fair of 1814 water in all areas froze solid. Icicles formed to a length of 15 ft . Ice bound roads brought many reports of broken bones and bruises. The cold began in October and lasted to December. 

June 10th 1883:- The tiny church of Llandinabo stands in a peaceful setting midway between Hereford and Ross on Wye, and on a sultry Sunday afternoon,  a violent thunderstorm developed.  The church was struck by a thunderbolt, eye witnesses said it looked like a ball of dazzling ,silvery blue fire which stuck the corner of the curch bells turret.

.May 14th 1886:- The Great flood of this time is still considered to be the worst in Worcestershires history, when virtually all the low lying areas were in deep water. Many people were drowned and buildings were destroyed.  Acres of rich farmland were swept away. Never before had there been such a rapid and disastrous  flood ,with such loss of life.Tenbury Wells was on of the worst hit areas with shop windows smashed due to the violent rising waters. All through the neighbouring counties ,came calamity but Worcestershire seemed to bear the brunt of this evil flood. A relief fund was set up in Worcester ,with the people of the city and those from the surrounding countryside working togeather to bring the crisis to an end.