Northampton Mercury – Saturday 28 October 1882
Storms and Floods.

(Summary, full version below)

Weather

Strong north-easterly gale, rain and snow.

Flooding

The river level was noticed to be rising on Tuesday evening and by Wednesday p.m. the Denford Road was flooded in low lying places.  The water level rose rapidly flooding the road between the Swan Hotel and Bridge Street station, the back road to the White Hart (Cosy Nook), and the High Street itself was also flooded, up to the King’s Head.

The water gradually subsided and the roads were clear early on Tuesday (?) morning.

Storm and Flooding Damage

Trees were blown down in Drayton Park; a new brick wall at Smith and Grace was demolished by the gale although water damage to the foundry works was avoided by the temporary protection of planking and clay.  The house of the gas works manager, Thomas Morris, and several other houses on Midland Road had several inches of water in their downstairs rooms.

Occupants/owners of water damaged properties

Dr. Blacker, Mr Arnold, Mr Vogts, Mr W. Mault, Mr Jeeves, Mr Creeger, Mr Loveday and Mr. McLellan

(Summary prepared by Denis Swingler)

Northampton Mercury – Saturday 28 October 1882

Storms and Floods.

Tuesday last will remembered one of stormiest days ever experience this locality. At Noon there was a strong north-easterly gale with heavy showers of commingling rain and snow. The Market-place was nearly deserted, farmers and dealers were under the buildings for shelter. The storm raged all the afternoon, the aneroid barometer sinking to 28 3/10ths.

Tuesday evening brought with hourlv increasing, flood. Drayton Park again lost some of its magnificent trees. A considerable length of new brickwork with window-frames, &c., at Messrs. Smith and Grice’s new foundry was blown down by the gale. Branches ‘ were blown off trees the park opposite Mr. Eland’s residence.

On Tuesday night the river was noticed to be slowly but surely rising, and on Wednesday afternoon the lowest part the road was covered with water. After this the water speedily advanced to the Swan Hotel on one side, whilst it covered the roadway between the North-Western station, the White Hart backway, and the Swan. Dr. Blacker and Mr. Arnold speedily had their backway flooded, whilst planking and clay liberally appplied effectually protected Messrs. Smith and Grace’s foundry.

The unfortunate manager of the Gas Works Thomas Morris, again experienced a thorough “swill-out ” having to move his furniture into the higher yard adjoining, and leave his ground floor to the chilly invader The Gasworks themselves are now elevated above even an extraordinary flood mark.

The yellow flood gradually surged up to the Swan door, and the entrances to Mr Mr. W.Mault’s houses, and the King’s Head Inn. The water also stole up the White Hart backway’ Wednesday night. Large concourse of boys and curious people stood watching the flood.

Vehicles splashed through the water with passengers at a penny ride, and an intoxicated middle-aged woman, the hawker class, also created some amusement by stumbling about the water and finally rolling over several times.

However by eight o clock on Tuesday morning the street was again clear. Mr Jeeves, Mr. Mr. Loveday, and Mr. McLehan (tenants of Mr. Croager’s houses on the Midlandroad) had two three inches of water all over their ground floors.

The recurrence of these floods, with a frequency, and extent unknown years ago, demand some remedial measures.   The Nene  Navigation Commission having neither funds nor apparently inclination to do much more than collect their taxes, .the inundation question will doubtless be dealt with as an imperial one, and from this direction only can relief be hoped for.