Autumn/Winter 2023/2024
The record breaking excessive rainfall of 2023/2024 has been widely recorded elsewhere nationally but the resulting floods locally were severe. Over several weeks the steady and prolonged rainfall filled the dykes and run-offs until the saturated land reached maximum capacity and water overflowed onto the roads. Then after a full 24 hours of heavy rain most of the roads around Woodnewton and the adjoining villages were either impassable or under several inches of water – in particular the road south of Woodnewton bridge towards Oundle where the Willowbrook had taken a new route out of the adjacent meadow and crossed the road.
Alternative routes through the neighbouring villages had their problems too. So, once again the Woodnewton community, through its What’s App link, kept people informed abaout the flood hazards s a few intreip travellers reported the depth and extent of the water in the morning and whether particular routes were or were not passable. This all swung into action again as people returned to the village later in the day.
The situation lasted for a while as the water levels rose and fell with the inclement weather.
2024 Photographs by Matthew Roberts.
OTHER FLOODS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
6th July 1811 reported in Stamford Mercury
We have seldom had to record so heavy a fall of rain as was experienced in this town and neighbourhood on Sunday last. – During the whole of the day, and the greater part of the night, there was a continued and at times, very violent discharge of water – the effects of which have been seriously felt throughout the district which it visited. The Hunter’s Bridge at Hambleton, which withstood the tremendous storm and floods of 1794-5, was swept away – it is supposed by the quantities of hay that pressed against it. The Vale of Catmos was never known to be inundated in so high and hasty a manner as it was by this rain. Hay in swarth, cocks and even several small stacks were carried away by the impetuosity of the flood. The Wash at Casterton and Ryal, as usual in very hasty rains, rose to a great height, and the meadows on each side it were deeply flooded; but we understand the damage is not very material, as the hay was nearly all stacked and the stock of cattle were saved. The, meadows about Barrowden, Wakerley, Harringworth, Thorpe, Caldecot and Binghurst, presented a dreadful spectacle – immense quantities of hay were carried away. Several thousand loads, it is supposed have been destroyed; in addition to which the injury sustained by the land has been very great. Among the sufferers, we are sorry to hear, are Mr Law of Cliffe, 8 acres of hay; Mr Hale, of Wood Newton 13 acre; and Mr Buzley, of Casterton 3 acres. The water rose 18 feet in less than 4 hours in Wood-Newton parish.
14th March 1975 reported in Stamford Mercury
A road bridge was washed away by the River Nene, at Perio, between Woodnewton and Oundle, on Sunday, but Northants County Council built a Bailey Bridge over the river, on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the council said: “Although the road is only a small by-road, it is a school bus route, and this is why we are acting so quickly”.
The bridge was transported from Brackley to Perio on Tuesday. It is single lane bridge 30 feet long.