The Great Severn Estuary Flood of 1607

Our speaker, local historian Rose Hewlett outlined the background to and the unfolding events of the morning of 30th January 1607.

She started with an explanation of why at the time the date was then known locally as 20th January 1606.

Elsewhere the switch to the Gregorian calander had already taken place but the Julian calander was still used in England, hence historical documentation of the disaster uses the 1606 date.

Rose outlined the progress of the great flood from outside the Bristol Channel, then into the Channel and finally up the River Severn. Using mostly records from local vicars, she conveyed the utter devestation of that morning as the flood progressed affecting villages on both England and Wales.

The question of why it all happened was then analysed - the weather, the will of God, perhaps a tsunami? Rose led a lively discussion of those present on these issues and then finally on the relevance to what impact this event of over 400 years ago has to today, particularily to us as local residents.

Could it happen again? Are we doing enough? Rose certainly got us all thinking.

Heather Anderson