Flooding, Snowdrifts & a Fire

See also Ray West's article on floods in 1886

Snow March 2018

 

Sea Floods Burton Bradstock in 1951

In 1951, during a winter gale, the tide broke over the beach at Burton Freshwater. The sea came pouring across Bunny Lenthall’s water-meadows and into the village of Burton Bradstock. It flooded the road and low-lying cottages.


Snow hit Burton Bradstock badly in February 1978
     

The third week in February, 1978.   Gale force winds brought the heaviest fall of snow that South West England had known since 1963.   Burton Bradstock, Shipton Gorge, Puncknowle and other villages were cut off and isolated from each other.   The only means of communication was by telephone (if the lines were not down), or by foot (if you could get a snowed-up door open) slogging over the drifts.

The farmers did a fine job in clearing paths to their cattle and, since no milk lorries could get through to the farms, what milk was not poured down the drains, was put into (new and clean) plastic dustbins and brought by tractor to the centre of the village where grateful villagers queued up with jugs, bottles etc..

After nearly five days confined to the house, all were so pleased to be able to get out that a local coffee morning in aid of the Arthritic& Rheumatism Research Council was attended by a large crowd who generously subscribed £65!!

     

Click on a picture for a more detailed image.

   
     

Cliff Road February 1978

 

Cliff Road February 1978

     

Further up Cliff Road the snow was even worse

 

Further up Cliff Road the snow was even worse

     

Coast Road

 

Coast Road

     

High Street in the snow on 2nd February, 1978

 

High Street in the snow on 2nd February, 1978

     

The eastern end of the High Street

 

The eastern end of the High Street

     

Shipton Lane in the snow on 1st February, 1978

 

Shipton Lane in the snow on 1st February, 1978

     

And on the 2nd February in Shipton Lane

 

And on the 2nd February in Shipton Lane

     

Even “The Drain” between Annings Lane and Grove Road was hit

 

Even ·The Drain· between Annings Lane and Grove Road was hit

     
The River Bride didn't quite freeze over
  The River Bride didn't quite freeze over From Tony Legg
   
Shadrach blocked by the Anchor
  Shadrach blocked by the Anchor From Tony Legg
   
Barr Lane
  Barr Lane From Tony Legg
   
Cliff Road
  Cliff Road From Tony Legg
     
Help at last!
  Help at last! From Tony Legg
     
And in 1963 - Icicles on The Retreat
 
     
Close up of icicles 1963
 
     
Main Weymouth Road
  From Veronica Young
   
Veronica Young in her front garden
  From Veronica Young
   
Hive Close
  From Veronica Young
     

And flooding was always a problem -

as can be seen from these pictures from 1949

(Photographs provided by Tony Legg)

   
     
What with flooding...and the cattle!
(Note high wall & low sign opposite the pub)
  What with flooding...and the cattle!
   
Harold Greenham, landlord of the Three Horseshoes, looking for customers?
  Harold Greenham, landlord of the Three Horseshoes
   
Greenwich Corner was flooded once again
  Greenwich Corner was flooded once again
   
Pedestrians wondering how to get through
  Pedestrians wondering how to get through
   
Fortunately, the bus got through
  Fortunately, the bus got through
   
And so did the lorry
  And so did the lorry
   
This is when tractors come into their own!
  This is when tractors come into their own!
     

And flooding was always a problem – as can be seen from these pictures from 1955

   
     

Greenwich Corner

 

Greenwich Corner

     

High Street from the Forge

 

High Street from the Forge

     

A group wondering how to get to the pub

 

A group wondering how to get to the pub

     

And the playing fields were also under water

 

And the playing fields were also under water

     

And again in 1979 - On 30th May, 1979, fifteen months after the heavy snows, as a result of only one nights’ rain, large areas of Dorset, including Burton Bradstock, suffered severe flooding.   Luckily a visitor had a dinghy on his roof rack and he spent the day providing a ferry between Cheney’s garage and The Anchor.

   
     

No cream teas at Manor Farm today?

 

No cream teas at Manor Farm today?

     

Floods seen from the coast road

 

Floods seen from the coast road

     

People came to see

 

People came to see

     

It even reached the garage

 

It even reached the garage

     
Flooding at the garage
 
     

Boating in the High Street!!

 

Boating in the High Street!!

     

Wading down the High Street

 

Wading down the High Street

     

Tractor and breakdown truck came to help

 

Tractor and breakdown truck came to help

     

Wonder what they’re looking at??

 

Wonder what they·re looking at??

     

The sign was right!

 

The sign was right

     

 

 

 

Lightening sets cottages on fire! Date not known at time of writing.

 


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