Storm Event
"In the darkness of the night too the sea appeared to burn like a fire, and the billows seemed to crowd together, as though fighting with one another”
Source
Violent winds (Paris, 1852), leading to storm flood in the North Sea (Brooks and Glasspoole, 1928).
Pathway
Sea over flowed its usual bounds (Paris, 1852), breaking sea defences in the Netherlands (Brooks and Glasspoole, 1928).
Receptor and Consequence
Thick mist, violent gales and a swollen red moon preceded this coastal flood event (Paris, 1852). The North Sea coasts were affected, notably Winchelsea in Kent where upwards of 300 houses were destroyed (Brooks and Glasspoole, 1928). Extensive damage was also felt in low-lying areas around the Humber and the Wash (Lamb, 1977). Many ships were lost at sea and more sunk in the historical port of Hertbourne, Newcastle upon Tyne. The tide forced rivers back, causing them to overflow into fields, bridges and meadows, carrying away crops which had not yet been stored (Paris, 1852).
Summary Table
| Loss of life | * |
| Residential property | Over 300 houses in Winchelsea were destroyed. Extensive damage caused in low-lying areas around the Humber and the Wash |
| Evacuation & Rescue | * |
| Cost | * |
| Ports | In Hertbourne (historic port in Newcastle upon Tyne), three notable ships and many smaller vessels were sunk |
| Transport | Bridges destroyed in Winchelsea and where rivers swelled due to the tide |
| Energy | * |
| Public services | * |
| Water & wastewater | * |
| Livestock | * |
| Agricultural land | Meadows, mills and fields were flooded, carrying away corn which had not yet been stored in barns |
| Coastal erosion | * |
| Natural environment | * |
| Cultural heritage | * |
| Coastal defences | Dutch sea defences wrecked |
*No known sources of information available
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References
- Paris, M. (1852). Matthew Paris’ English History. From the year 1235 to 1273: Paris, Matthew, 1200-1259. (J. A. Giles, trans). Available at: https://archive.org/details/matthewparissen00rishgoog (Accessed: 6 August 2018).
- Brooks, C. E. P. and Glasspoole, J. (1928). British Floods and Droughts. London: Ernest Benn, 199pp.
- Lamb, H. H. (1977). Climate. Past, Present and Future: Volume 2 – Climatic History and the Future. London: Metheum, 835pp.
- PParis, M. (1852). Matthew Paris’ English History. From the year 1235 to 1273: Paris, Matthew, 1200-1259. (J. A. Giles, trans). Available at: https://archive.org/details/matthewparissen00rishgoog (Accessed: 6 August 2018).