1 February to 8 February, 2010 (From Worcester News)

1 February to 8 February, 2010

12:11pm Monday 1st February 2010 in

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THIS WEEK IN 1960:

FLOODS, the worst since 1947, inundated towns and villages in the Severn Valley this week following much heavy rain. This fell on land already saturated from previous downpours and snowfall, and the soil was unable to absorb the moisture. Streams, brooks and ditches quickly overflowed and the effect of the floodwater was soon felt in the rivers. The rise was rapid and many Worcester people were taken by surprise when flood water swirled into their homes in Hylton Road and other riverside roads. Also closed by flooding were Croft Road and the Newport Street bus station. Bransford was isolated by the flooded Teme and an Army DUKW was called to the rescue to bring in supplies. One of the major mishaps from the flood was the seepage of floodwater into the city’s waterworks.

This resulted in a warning being issued on Monday for householders to boil all their drinking water. The warning also applied to villages in the Pershore, Upton and Droitwich areas which get their water from Worcester. Several houses on the Dines Green housing estate were flooded, totally unexpectedly, by a torrent of water cascading from a nearby stream. This left icy water to a depth of two feet on their ground floors.

THIS WEEK IN 1970:

THE public bar in the centuries-old Lion Hotel at Clifton upon Teme has already been re-named “the smoke room” by the regulars after a frightening experience for them on Thursday evening. Lashed by high winds, the Lion’s 30ft chimney caved in and as bricks and rubble filled the fireplace in the bar, the 20 or so regulars were enveloped in a thick black cloud of dust and soot. And as their pints of bitter quickly took on the appearance of “black and tans,” the customers had to be evacuated. On Friday, PR Peters, the pub’s landlord and his staff were still busy clearing up “the awful mess” in the blackened bar. The rubble was also being removed from the fireplace, and the chimney was being made safe. The Lion is thought to date from 1178 and the chimney is certainly a few hundred years old.

THIS WEEK IN 1980:

THE International Society for Krsna Consciousness – formerly known as the Krishna Sect – announced this week that it has bought stately Croome Court for £300,000. The historic property will be used as the movement’s first preparatory school in Britain and will take the sons and daughters of Krsna followers. A society spokesman said: “We will have 26 students to start with but we expect the number of increase significantly.” The sect’s strict code of behaviour includes no drink, drugs or any other stimulant, no extra martial sex, no gambling and a complete vegetarian diet with no meat, fish or eggs.

THIS WEEK IN 1990:

NIGHTMARE weather conditions – the worst since January 1976 – hit Worcestershire last week.

Winds of 82 mph lashed the county and left a trail of damage and destruction.

Trees were felled by the hurricane and hundreds of buildings and roofs were damaged. And as people started this week to repair the damage from the gales, heavy continuous rainfall caused the Severn and other rivers to burst their banks, creating further havoc.

Pitchcroft and the county cricket ground were soon under several feet of water, and families in Diglis Avenue had to retreat upstairs. Hylton Road and other riverside routes were flooded.