Severn Stories

Most people who know Shropshire, know the problems it has when the River Severn floods. In 1947, the Severn reached its highest recorded levels and the flooding cost the towns along the river, a massive £12 million. Shrewsbury was completely cut off the rest of the world. As you can see, shops and businesses in the area were affected. People's day to day routines were affected too, as they had to walk over wooden boards to cross the flooded area.

Why did River Severn flood so badly in 1947?

Between September 1946 and mid January 1947 rain fell on most days in the areas surrounding the Severn. Then the temperatures dropped below zero and the ground became frozen. Between the middle of January and March one metre of snow fell in the same areas that had also seen all the rain and freezing temperatures. When the thaw and warmer weather came in March, the River Severn simply burst its banks.

Floods are not the only perils of the Severn. Deaths and accidents on the river are another.

On the evening of 23rd October 1799, 28 people drowned whilst crossing the Severn between Coalport and Broseley.

The people involved were workers from the Coalport China Works on their way home from work. A week after the accident, the owner of the China Works, John Rose, wrote to the Salopian Journal, a weekly Shropshire newspaper, to let its readers know what happened.