Tag: January 1854

Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post or Plymouth and Cornish Advertiser: Thursday January 12th, 1854: issue 4581: News. 

The floods: A public meeting, convened by requisition was held at the Town Hall on Thursday evening to take into consideration the great destruction of property now becoming of frequent occurrence, from the incapacity of the present narrowed channel of the river Lemon, to carry off water. The Portreve, Mr. W Lovas, took the chair.  Mr. J. Vicary said the experience of the last three weeks called for some means to be taken to prevent these inundations; he did not think he over stated the loss from the recent floods in setting it down at £4,000 and the dwellings of both rich and poor had suffered severely; he thought the only remedy was to go to the Marsh, deepening it to the Newton Mill, thence through Mr. Pinsent’s to his own farm yard, the expense to be borne by both parties. Messrs. Milward, Branscombe, Bearne, Coward, Abberley, and J. Bealey forcibly addressed the meeting; there was a general agreement in opinion that some decided plan to remedy the evil should be adopted, but some difference as to what should be the scheme. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Vicary that Mr. Dymond, of Exeter, Mr. Abberley, and Mr. Peter Bearne, should be called in to see what could be done, and he would guarantee the expense. Thanks were voted to the Portreve and the meeting broke up.  

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.

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Western Times: Saturday 7th January 1854

Newton Abbot: THE FLOODS: — PUBLIC MEETING: Large and influential meeting the inhabitants of this town was held Thursday evening, at six o’clock, pursuant to a requisition signed by 100 the principal tradesmen and others, to take into consideration the great destruction of property now become of frequent occurrence from the incapability of the present narrowed channel of the River Lemon to carry off water; Mr. W. Lovas, portreeve, in the chair. The requisition calling the meeting having been read, Mr. J. Vicary said the experience of the last three weeks called for some means to prevent these inundations. He did not think he over-stated the loss from the recent floods, when he set it down to £1,000. The dwellings of both rich and poor had suffered severely from these inundations. On Tuesday he watched the water of the Lemon; it was within six inches of the seacoast; a few inches would have sent it over the bank into the town. The next morning, he could have walked across the bed of the river, so sudden was the rise and fall that if persons were obliged to watch the time that twelve hours’ rain occurred, the part of the town referred to would become uninhabitable. Many people were obliged to stop up their doors and windows. The watercourse had been dealt extremely free with; the recent alterations in the Marketplace being an example. He did not wish to intrude his opinion, but he thought that the only remedy was to go the marsh, deepening it to the Newton Mill, thence through Mr. Pinsent’s to his own farmyard, and the expense be borne by both parishes. Mr. Milward thought the last speaker referred to him. He had built some cottages, but the width at that place was feet, whilst at the bridge it was only 11 feet. Messrs. Branscombe, Coward, Abberly, J. Beazley, and others, addressed the meeting. On the motion of Mr. Vicary, it was resolved that Mr. Dymond, Exeter, Mr. Abberly, and Mr. Peter Bearne, should be called in to see what could be done, and he would guarantee the expense. 

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

GROxxxx xxxxx