June 6, 1903

FOR many years, Astwood Bank has not been visited by such a terrific thunder storm as that which occurred on Saturday afternoon.

For upwards of an hour the storm raged with unabated severity.

The vivid flashes of lightning and deafening peals of thunder were followed by a heavy downpour of rain and hailstones of enormous size, accompanied by a hurricane of wind.

A number of windows were broken and houses flooded.

When the storm was at its height, a chimney at the Manor House, the residence of Rev Thomas Rea, was struck by lightning and literally split in two.

Several large trees were also struck.

A number of miraculous escapes from death and serious injury are reported and the storm gave the neighbourhood a severe shock.