On this day in Yorkshire

January 18, 1939

Heavy rain in many parts of the country yesterday caused swollen rivers to overflow and flood many main roads, in some cases to depths of two to four feet.

Along a few reaches below Laleham the Thames last night crept over its banks, and near Walton flowed on meadowland. A large number of bungalows were in danger of being isolated. The Medway and tributaries overflowed, but new floodgates were operated and the water dispersed more quickly than in the past.

The AA and RAC last night reported flooded roads in Yorkshire, the Midlands, and Kent. Thunder and lightning In North Derbyshire lasting several hours last night was accompanied by torrential rain, and roads became rivers a couples of Inches deep. The River Derwent rose to a very high level.

Although flooding in the Castleford district abated considerably yesterday, there were still between 200 and 300 families imprisoned in the bedrooms of their houses. They had done no shopping since Saturday, and food supplies ran out in many instances. The difficulty was overcome by orders being given to men in boats. Owing to the swollen river it was impossible to get boats to the loading staithes, and the Allerton Bywater, Wheldale and Fryston collieries were idle.

Arrangements made on Monday night for hot soup and bread to be provided for the people were again repeated. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Castleford Ratepayers’ Association last night it was decided to ask the Castleford Urban District Council to open a relief fund for the victims.

The floods in York and district began to subside yesterday but heavy rain fell during the evening. The River Ouse reached its maximum height of 12ft 4in above Summer level in the early hours of Tuesday morning but it had fallen by about four inches by afternoon.

Riverside wharves and walks were still submerged and occupiers of houses and hotels had water in their rooms on the ground floors. The floodwater entered the auditorium of the Picture House Cinema.

Foss Basin and St George’s Field were extensively flooded. Businessmen in offices near Lendal Bridge had to “walk the plank” to get to their premises. Clifton Ings and other low-lying land, both upstream and down, were considerably flooded.

Several falls of cliff occurred at Filey. Hundreds of tons fell nearly 200 feet at one point. Large stretches of cliff footpath have been carried away at the Filey Bay North cliffs, and workmen yesterday were removing the fences of the cliff top further inland.