It’s November 2012, and after a dreadfully wet summer, an even wetter autumn, we’re heading into a sodden winter. The land is so soaked with water that it can no longer hold it and every time it rains the water just sits in the fields and meadows puddles along the gutters and is barely coped with by the drains.
Driving home from Bristol today, I had to go through three-foot of water… scary…
Somerset is a county of hills and levels, and traditionally the lowlands would flood every year. Drainage and land management has sought to control the water and sea defences to protect us from the sea. However, more and more houses are being built, and more and more of them are on flood plains… so right now, much of Somerset is flooded, and sadly, several people have lost their lives.
However in 1607 a flood of disastrous proportions hit Somerset, Devon in England and Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire in Wales. There was a tidal which sent sea water 14 miles inland along the English coast, and devastated villages and communities on both sides of the Bristol Channel. it is estimated that 200 square miles of farmland was inundated, livestock and people swept away. Uphill, where we live would have been totally immersed.
Descriptions of what happened written at the time, talk of the sea receding and then a huge wall of water with sparks flying off the crest, racing across the land, faster than a man could run. We are used to having very high tides along this coast – the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal flow in the world, if a high tide is influenced by the full moon, or if there is a tidal surge, if there is a strong on-shore wind, if there is a heavy rainfall swelling the rivers and waterways, then flooding occurs… but the sea receding, a wall of water travelling faster than a running man? Does that sound like a tsunami to you? A tsunami in 1607 in Somerset?
Lois Elsden 
How interesting. Sad, too. We didn’t have even one measured drop of precipitation in Albuquerque, New Mexico this past October. When it rains it pours.
LikeLike
Our side of England is always wetter than the East, but this year it is just ridiculous… I can hear the rain pouring down right now… more floods!
LikeLike
Watching tv over the weekend I had been wondering whether where you live had suffered as I had seen so much in Somerset. Very interesting what you have written about the 1607 flood, but on Sunday night’s Countryfile they had a big piece on a flood in the eighteenth century, documented by Daniel Defoe, but didn’t mention this earlier one.
LikeLike
I caught the end of that… in 2007 there was a lot of local programmes on the anniversary of the flood, there was one which had a modern photo taken from the hill overlooking our village with an image superimposed as if it was flooded to the same 1607 level… terrifying! I think we’d be ok sitting on our roof! We have actually made a flood plan…
LikeLike
Young lady I don’t like that driving through three feet of water business! Down here in Texas, where we have lots of flash floods, there is a public safety campaign called “turn around don’t drown.” THIS MEANS YOU LOIS! Very dangerous taking that chance. I’ve done it too, through rushing water, and won’t do it again. I say this from a place of love and affection for you! The car can float off in less than a foot of water if situation is right. Please no!
Now..that historical tsunami…whoa! It’s the exact description! I got chills when I read it. Those poor folk. At least now we have some knowledge and ability to plan for these things.
PS Please send all the rain you can here to Texas, my soil is so hard and packed I can sweep it like concrete.
love
xoxo
LikeLike
Oh you are so sweet, thanks for your stern words – you are quite right, and I certainly WILL NOT do it again! I’m right this instant doing a little spell to send some of our Uphill rain to Texas, but only the best sweetest, purest to nourish your concrete!
Love love
xxxx
LikeLike
I agree with Jena! Some dreadful situations come about with cars in water. When we were young and driving between Alice Springs and Adelaide on unsealed roads, Dad used to tip us out of the car to walk in the puddles to check the depth. He said if we disappeared he wouldn’t drive through. Not funny in the current context however. It almost sounds as though you could grow rice in your part of the world Lois. Love the images you have posted here.
LikeLike
Oh thanks! yes, I won’t be doing that again… very foolish but I was in a line of other vehicles and there was easily accessible places on either side of the road… still stupid, and I promise it won’t be repeated!
LikeLike
Some of the churches south of Newport record that 1607 event
LikeLiked by 1 person
… and across the water in Somerset! Which churches are they near Newport? It might be worth a visit to see!
LikeLike
Not sure – maybe Goldcliff and Nash
LikeLiked by 1 person
although hardly anyone does that section, those villages are on / just off the wales coast path and you get quite good views back to the bridges
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds great! Cameras at the ready!
LikeLike
Do you know the 365 steps at Wynd Cliff BTW?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I don’t but sounds interesting!
LikeLike
you get some good views over the estuary from up there
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are lovely views from the train, but they pass in a flash… or rather me on the train passes in a flash!
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyndcliff
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! How amazing, and the 365 steps! We must definitely visit there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is a miscount
LikeLiked by 1 person
Should there be more or less?
LikeLike
310?
LikeLiked by 1 person
unfortunately i did it in January of the westtest winter for about 150 years
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear… slippery as well as soggy I guess
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes really
LikeLiked by 1 person
so redwick and goldcliff
LikeLiked by 1 person