Adel/Sheepscar Beck on today's date (July 11) in 1829.

[Leodian]

The following is most of a report in John Mayhall’s ‘Annals of Yorkshire’ volume 1 published 1861. It is long, so I hope it is still of interest.July 11 1829. “On the night of July 11th, a dreadful inundation occurred in Leeds and the neighbourhood, occasioned by the bursting of a reservoir, situate at Black hill, near Adle, about seven miles north-west of Leeds, which broke down its banks. The reservoir is situated nearly at the head of the stream known by the various names of Adle beck, Woodhouse beck, and Sheepscar beck, through which places it passes in its course to Leeds. The dam occupies an extent of from twenty to twenty-five acres, and is rather formed by natural than artificial means, the only embankment being at the east end, which is about fifteen feet high, and it was the breaking or giving way of this embankment, which caused the flood. A breach having been made, the water rushed through with dreadful impetuosity, swelling the small rivulet of Adel beck to a mighty stream, and carrying ruin and destruction along with it, until it emptied itself into the river Aire, at Leeds. Nothing could arrest its progress. It threw down bridges, levelled walls, uprooted fences, and carried devastation into all the adjoining lands. Nor was the injury confined to mill-owners and those of large property. The dwellings of the humble cottagers were deluged, many of whom suffered severely, and some were deprived of every vestige of clothing and furniture they had in the world. The whole contents of this vast reservoir emptied itself in two hours”.    

[Jogon]

The excitement mounts with the account of the rescue:The first intimation of this calamitous accident was by a workman of Mr Hainsworth of Addle Mills who immediately communicated the intelligence to Messrs Andrews and Co of Scotland Mills and to Mr David Smith of Smithy Mills flour mills (who) then immediately...rode to Leeds with all speed, giving the alarm to the principal manufacturers upon the stream.. until he reached Mr Jonathan Lupton's flour mill (probably St Peter's St) close by the Lady Beck.Mr Lupton communicated the alarm to his neighbours, and it was passed from one to another until it reached the point where the beck joins the River Aire.[Taken from my " Leeds' golden acres " book]