Disastrous Flood: One of the most terrific and disastrous floods ever known in this district took place on Sunday last. During the whole of the preceding night the rain had fallen in torrents, and the wind blew a hurricane. About half-past twelve on the Sunday morning, the inhabitants were able to attend their various places of worship, little dreaming of the sight which was to meet their eyes ere long. About eleven o’clock the rivers Lemon and Teign began to swell with the immense quantity of water which came down from the hills, and overflowed the garden of Mr. Wotton, basket maker, where, in a short space of time, the accumulation was so great that it forced down two walls, and rushed with terrific violence into the premises of Mr. Vicary, completely inundating his tanyard, and doing damage it is estimated to the amount of above one thousand pounds. Nothing being now left to impede the force of the element, away it rushed into the streets, lanes and courts, laying the whole space between the Commercial Inn, to Mr. Beanie’s lane, the marketplace, on to Kingsteignton road and the Marshes, completely under water, while hedges gave way, crops in the ground were washed up, 150 tons of coals belonging to Mr. Pinsent were swept off, and immense pieces of timber belonging to Mr. Bearne, Mr. Milward, and others, yielded to the mighty force, and were borne onward like wisps of straw. About half-past twelve the inhabitants came thronging forth from churches and chapels, and great was their consternation to find the distance between them and their homes, one rushing roaring tract of water. And now came a scene which taffies all description. Wheelbarrows of clay were being driven with difficulty to the various shops, the owners of which were busily engaged up to their knees in water, placing that now invaluable commodity over their frontages, to keep out a further risk of water from their premises …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901