Black and white

Acc.no: PEZPH : 2016.50.267

Identification

Item: The Flood at Newlyn, November 1894

Description: These photographs show the aftermath of the floods at Newlyn following days of torrential rain. Early November 1894 had seen the heaviest rainfall that many in Newlyn could remember: it was incessant, causing many older folk to mutter "the rain it raineth every day". However, the evening of Sunday 11th into Monday 12th saw the heaviest yet and this added to the accumulated water and debris on the previous days and the drainage systems could no longer cope. The swollen river burst its banks, bringing down the bridge at St Peter's Church and inundating the roads before it. Residents were trapped in their homes by the water. At its height the flood reached almost to the ceiling of the worst affected houses, breaking through doors and windows causing furniture and clothes to be washed away. Interior walls were destroyed, running one cottage into another. The suddenness of the event had given no time to escape or to rescue possessions and stores. Mr Bath's coal store is reported as losing 100 or 200 tons of coal an locals were seen rescuing quantities of it from the beach. It was the worst flooding in living memory, but it was noted at the time that it could have been worse: at least it happened in daylight hours, in the dark it would have been harder to assess the level of water and there may have been loss of life. By Monday evening the area where the roads (now known as the Coombe, Chywoone Hill and The Strand) meet was passable only by boat. As the waters receded the work of cleaning-up began as shown here. Even then because of the mud the roads were impassable. The photographs also show the value of the Gibson photographs as a social and historical record of the time. Within days the pictures were advertised in the Cornishman as "instantaneous photographs of characteristic scenes of Newlyn under water". Following the devastating floods, a relief fund was set up. The Cornish Telegraph printed a list of subscribers in December and included T.C Gotch (Secretary of the Fund); Stanhope Forbes; Frank Bramley; Norman Garstin; Walter Langley; Fred Hall; Henry Rheam and Chevallier Taylor. Their donations ranged from 10 shillings to two guineas. Sources: Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph online.

Condition: Good

Description

Material: Photographic paper

Production

Method: Printed

Category: Photography

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