Wednesday 17 November 2010

Sheffield Flood Talk Review

Monday’s meeting was a great success, Peter Machan’s talk on Sheffield’s 1864 flood was a magnificent performance given in full Victorian style. His talk started with him acting as the reporter who first got the story out in the papers the day after the dyke gave way. The talk showed the weaknesses of the design of the dam and how the crack developed before the structural integrity failed, recalled stories printed at the time of peoples mixed fortunes of either being swept away of miraculous escapes from the clutches of the wall of water and also the results of the inquiry which followed. The talk also has a visual show of photographs, drawings and illustrations to help bring to life this tragedy which drowned 238 people from several villages along the Loxley Valley and through the steel heartland of Sheffield’s industrial zone.

Two reminders for the rest of the week ahead:

Saturday 20th November Sheffield Archaeology Day at the Showroom in Sheffield
Monday 22nd November Committee meeting 19.30 at Oldcotes Village Hall

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