Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 18 Jul 1934
Page 2 Column 6
FLOODS IN TAUNTON!
VIOLENT STORM ENDS DROUGHT.
LIGHTNING CAUSES FIRE.
CHURCH FETE MARRED.
Unusual scenes were witnessed in the streets of Taunton after the violent thunderstorm which ended the drought on Thursday afternoon. The storm commenced at about three o'clock and continued for nearly an hour. The sewers were unable to carry away the heavy rain, and in several places the roads became completely flooded. Station-road and Staplegrove-road suffered most in this respect. The whole of Staplegrove-road from Weirfield School to a point near the Lyceum Theatre was impassable to pedestrians at one time. Parents waded through water a foot deep in places and carried their children from the entrance of North Town School, and motorists also assisted in conveying children through the flooded stretches.
Many people who took shelter under the railway bridge in Station-road were stranded when the water rose above the level of the footpath.
Council employees were kept busy clearing the gutters, and the water soon disappeared.
Taunton Fire Brigade were called to an out-break at Cheddon Fitzpaine, which is believed to have been caused by the lightning which accompanied the storm. The roof of a house was damaged, but the firemen were successful in preventing the flames from spreading, and were helped in this by the rain. The house is the residence of Colonel –d? Mrs C. M. G. LYON, who were away at the time, the servants being the only occupants, of the house. The discovery was made by a lad named MUSGROVE, the son of a gardener employed by Colonel LYON. The firemen stripped off part of the lead roof and returned to Taunton within a short time.
The storm marred a fete which had been arranged in St. James' Vicarage grounds. The lady helpers had just prepared their stalls when the rain fell suddenly. In their efforts to remove the articles to a dry place they were thoroughly drenched and some of the garments were damaged. The fete was, of course, postponed, and when the rain stopped tea was taken in the open.