-ing a boat was had in requisition, and by means of ladders, several of the inmates were liberated, while provisions were introduced through the upper windows for the benefit of those who remained in the houses. The York Hotel suffered considerably, the flood flowing half round it, and reach[ed] several other houses at that end of York buildings. Meadow Cottages were as secure from intrusion and extrusion as any moted(sic) castle without a drawbridge. While the road in front was blocked up from the Castle Mews [afterwards the Gaiety Theatre ] to York buildings. This continued till some time after noon on Tuesday, when the water began to subside and the road was clear about four. On the next day, scarcely any traces could be seen of the flood, and what appeared on Tuesday a broad noble river was nothing but a little stream meandering through a bright green meadow. Fortunately, little mischief was done beyond the inconvenience and domestic annoyances of floating furniture and irritated tempers. It was reported that the Eversfield waterworks suffered considerably. At daylight, the water from the Old Roar stream alone overflowed a dyke six feet wide. It then gathered the Shornden Valley stream, and the volume of water from Fairlight and Bunger Hill, which flows by Hole Farm. The culvert at the Priory is four feet diameter, or in other words is capable of letting out twelve cubic feet of water in a body, whilst no less than 50 cubic feet was being incessantly poured into the meadow. The culvert is also obstructed by a dam and water-wheel which is gradually filling up the channel. Not a few anathemas have been hurled by the Prioryites against our Council for supply such puny means of egress for water in the meadow. . .But we can assure our readers that at last, the Council have grown wiser. As it was in the days of Noah, so it is to be now. We are to have no more floods [until the next great storm]. We have a new and energetic surveyor. The Council, at their last meeting, ordered the drainage of the Priory meadow to be carried out forthwith. And now we lay our plume once more on the velvet desk, set ourselves in our cosy armchair, draw our bandanna across our face, and take a gentle, tranquil siesta, satisfied that the time has come when there shall be no more floods" [until another opportunity!]
The quantity of rain during the storm was 2.40 inches & during the week 4.05 inches.
An Electrical Storm of lightning, thunder, wind and rain visited St. Leonards and Hastings on the 15th of July, and a similar storm occurred a week later, both of them on a Tuesday. In each case although the lightning and thunder were of an appalling character, no serious damage in this neighbourhood was heard of. Not so could it be said of Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford, in which localities considerable damage was done and sheep were killed. On the latter occasion, previously to a deluging rain, Powell's circus at Lewes was wrecked by a whirlwind, which snapped the ropes
