UK Weather - past and present
Month of January
Taken on 13th January, 2005, 2.32 p.m in Rotherham.
Storms 21st January 1802
Sheffield - On January 21st, 1802, the town was visited by a dreadful storm of wind, during which, the slates were torn from the roofs, and scattered through the streets with such violence that it was perilous to pass them. A stack of chimneys in St. James' Street, fell through the roof of an adjoining house, and overwhelmed a bed from which four persons had just risen. A sheet of lead,was precipitated from the flat roof of the Tontine, into the yard, immediately after the Doncaster mail coach had set out, and upon the very spot where it had stood. Many chimney pipes were destroyed, casements blown out, signs carried off, and decayed buildings shaken to pieces. A child was crushed to death at Sheffield-moor, by a falling wall. Two trees by the river side, near the Nursery, were torn up by the roots, and laid across the road. In the Wicker, three high chimneys at Mr. Dixon's silver refinery were laid to the ground.
Doncaster - On Wednesday night and yesterday the weather was the most tempestuous perhaps ever recollected, a tremendous hurricane blowing from the W.N.W. which has done considerable damage to this town and neighbourhood. The roofs of several houses were stripped, chimneys thrown down, and two large trees in Marsh-gate blown up. It blew so violent that many persons passing along the streets were thrown down and much hurt. A servant girl of Mrs. Bestow's, of Thorne, was killed by the falling of a chimney. A barn of Mr. Jackson's, of Rossington, was blown down; and we fear we shall have to relate more distressing circumstances occasioned by the storm.
Liverpool - We were visited here by the most dreadful hurricane last night than can be remembered by the oldest inhabitant. A horrid night it was indeed, and the daylight opened a scene shocking to behold. Many houses are quite blown down and demolished; innumerable others have had their chimneys thrown down in every part of the town. Many lives are left in ruins; but the havoc made in the river Mersey surpasses all description. Several vessels this day, at tide time, floundered in the sight of the inhabitants and Inspectors on shore, and in some instances every attempt to save the perishing sailors proved abortive! The river, and all along the Cheshire shore, presents a melancholy scene indeed: Dead bodies thrown up; dead pieces of wreck floating here and there! - Horror has been depicted in every countenance - each person afraid either to go out in the street for fear of being killed by the falling of brick, slates, ridgings, etc.. and equally apprehensive of his life by constant expectation of his house falling down over him.
York - Early on Thursday morning, the most tremendous gale of wind came on at this place that has been experienced for a number of years. It continued without intermission until a late hour in the evening. The damage it has done to the buildings, etc. in many parts of the city is considerable. Our letters mention, that its severity has been felt in almost every district of the kingdom. Our accounts from Hull state, that the appearance on the side of the river was most tremendous. From the extreme violence of the wind the Humber appeared like a vast field of smoke. - A small sloop belonging to Mr. Joseph Howard of that place, unloaded, sunk opposite the garrison, fortunately none of the crew were on board, and the vessel has been got up with little damage. Apprehensions were entertained for two brigs lying at anchor opposite the garrison, but they rode out the gale in safety. A brig was driven ashore between that place and Paul, but has since been got off. A sloop was sunk off Hessle, and two out of three of the crew drowned; the third reached the land with great difficulty. Of the crew of another sloop in great distress off that place, one perished upon deck by the cold; another was drowned, and the third was, by great exertion, got on shore, and carried to Hessle.
Manchester - on Thursday, the storm of wind and rain exceeded any similar visitation ever remembered; several houses were blown down, and, we lament to say, that four persons were crushed to death by the falling of one of the numerous stacks of chimneys razed by the hurricane. At Sudbury, Ipswich, and their neighbourhood, several houses were unroofed by the wind on Thursday night, and several chimneys blown down. The mill at Ballingden was nearly broken to pieces. At Norwich, on Thursday, the streets were strewed with the fragments of chimneys, roofs, etc. and in the neighbourhood, several large trees were blown down; and a pear tree belonging to Mr. Gurney, in Magdalene Street, was torn to atoms. Other damage was done, to the amount of £1000. At Stamford, a windmill, and several stacks of corn and hay, and innumerable chimneys were blown down. The chapel windows at Burghley were blown in, and several large trees were blown down.
Floods in Sheffield January 1806
On January 6th, there was one of the highest floods in the Don ever remembered ; the high road from the Wicker to the Bridgehouses was completely overflowed.
Severe Weather 17 January, 1809
For several miles in the Parish of Easington near Whitby, the snow lay from 4 to 8 feet deep. A larger quantity of snow has not been known within the last 20 years.
Summary of January, 1864
Source: Times, Sheffield Iris.
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