Kirkstall Road

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Fri 25 May, 2012 11:21 pm

I recently noticed on Google Earth that on a wall (more or less opposite YTV or Willow Road?) there is a Flood sign relating to November 1866. I seem to remember the sign as a small child though I think back in the 60's it was on a building. I wondered if anyone had ever heard any stories passed down through their family regarding the flood?

biofichompinc · Post by **biofichompinc** » Sat 26 May, 2012 8:16 am

A quick 'google' produces this.....http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... sage=0Have a look on page 2There is also this....http://www.kirkstallward.net/floods/ind ... dex.htmBut sorry Caron. No family memories.

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Sat 26 May, 2012 12:35 pm

Thank you SnP for the very interesting links.My evening is sorted!

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Sat 26 May, 2012 12:38 pm

No family reminiscences, but this is part of a report from the Leeds mercury 24.11.1866 on the leeds section of the floods. It is cut into 3 parts . hope it comes out

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Sat 26 May, 2012 12:39 pm

In reverse order i'm afraid

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Sat 26 May, 2012 12:47 pm

chemimike wrote: In reverse order i'm afraid Thanks for that, Chemimike. Can't believe we were never taught about this at school, (considering we went to Kirkstall Rd school). What kid wouldn't have found the topic exciting? History on the doorstep!

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sat 26 May, 2012 2:07 pm

chemimike wrote: In reverse order i'm afraid Many thanks for posting that cemimike.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 26 May, 2012 4:33 pm

Caron wrote: chemimike wrote: In reverse order i'm afraid Thanks for that, Chemimike. Can't believe we were never taught about this at school, (considering we went to Kirkstall Rd school). What kid wouldn't have found the topic exciting? History on the doorstep! No, it's funny what qualified as history at school and I'd suspect it's even worse now with the national curriculum etc.That said, I seem to remember us spending the best part of a term at middle school learning about the wool trade and how it made Leeds rich, so some local history was covered at least (in 1982.....)

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 26 May, 2012 7:34 pm

There is a report about the flooding on pages 66 to 74 in volume 3 of 'The Annals of Yorkshire from the earliest period to the present time' by John Mayhill. Volume 3 covers 1866-1874. The report dates the flood event as on November 16 1866 but with most of the deaths attributed to the washing away of a crowded landing stage at Leeds Bridge on November 17. I have reproduced just a small portion of the report on Leeds and have still omitted some bits where I have put a "....". The report starts:-"16th. Friday. The continuous heavy rains at this time in Yorkshire and Lancashire caused the most disastrous floods which had occured for a great number of years. In Leeds, the Aire and the larger becks overflowed, inundating the lower parts of the town, and doing great damage to property of all descriptions. At the junction of Hunslet Lane and Meadow Lane the water was about two feet deep. There was a great overflow at the Waterloo Ford, near to the Wellington Station, after passing which the stream flooded the works connected with the new station, carried away the foot bridge beyond the railway arches, and rose half way up Sandford Street. It swept with great force through the School Close Bridge into the King's Mill dam...Overflowing the bridge at the King's Mills, the water ran down Swinegate and poured into the mills, completely flooding the lower flat...Dock street was impassable, and in Hunslet Lane the flood extended to the Theatre Royal. Timble Beck flooded Marsh Lane and bottom of Kirkgate, rising to Church Lane in Kirkgate, and Mill Street in Marsh Lane...In Kirkstall Road, the flood rose to a great height...Whitham's Forge, Kirkstall Road, was completely flooded, all work was suspended, and the horses had to be removed from the stables...The scene at the Railway Station at Kirkstall baffles description. The river, which flows by the side of it, burst all its boundaries...The water flowed along in a deep, rapid stream as far as the eye could reach, whilst the fields in the vicinity were at one time flooded as high as five or six feet, the lines being under water to the depth of more than three feet. The ground in which the Abbey stands shared the same fate as its neighbours, but fortunately the flood did not reach the fine old ruin itself".The report has much more about the event in relation to Leeds but it also reports on the effects in other places regionally. I will only mention one bit, which I thought was partly amusing. In a report relating to the Selby area it stated "The destruction of game was enormous. Boats out on the Sunday returned loaded with hares, rabbits, partridges, and in one or two cases pheasants might be seen tied up with the hares. It was surprising how the hares and rabbits had contrived to climb up the fences. They were very tame, and made very little resistance on being captured".

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Sat 26 May, 2012 9:09 pm

Thank you for that, Leodian. When you picture flooded places it's very easy to forget about the poor animals so your final paragraph was a bonus. I also read Lancashire (some areas) were also hard hit by the flooding at the same time (or thereabouts). It's hard to imagine the scene really as in Leeds the flooding reads as being pretty extensive. It certainly covered some ground