FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF MORPETH’S BIG FLOOD
FORTY years ago Morpeth was hit by its worst ever flood.
The River Wansbeck burst its banks, deluging hundreds of properties and bringing chaos to the town’s streets on March 7, 1963.
The normally quiet waters became a raging torrent after rapidly melting snow in the hills caused the river to swell by almost ten times its normal size.
Many householders were trapped inside, while others returned from work to find houses awash.
Timber, cattle, sheep and even cars were swept away as water ran like a mill race along back streets.
A bedridden pensioner was rescued by stretcher from her home in Bennetts Walk and taken to hospital.
Two policemen were plucked from the roof of the ambulance station after their own boat sank.
The worst affected areas were Middle Greens, High and Low Stanners, Oldgate, Baysland, Pretoria Avenue, Staithes Lane and Wellwood Gardens.
Vehicles were marooned on The Terrace car park and rescuers wearing life-jackets toured the town to bring stranded people to safety.
Children were evacuated from Goosehill School, while other youngsters were sent home early from lessons.
Ambulances had to be moved out of their Gas House Lane depot just before the flood reached its height.
The first signs of flooding had been on higher ground — at Kirkhill on Wednesday March 6 — but it struck with a vengeance at midday on Thursday, reaching its peak at about 7.30pm.
More than a week later the story was still making headlines in the ‘Herald’.
Our edition of March 15 reported that a flood appeal launched by the then Mayor, Coun Maurice Reay, had reached almost £2,000.
And in the Commons, Morpeth’s MP, Mr Will Owen, was pressing the Government to match the relief fund pound for pound.
There was official praise for all those who had been involved in the rescue and mopping up operations.
When the waters receded, streets were covered in mud up to 18 inches deep and some houses in lower lying areas had 2ftt of mud, silt and sewage to contend with.
An official report by Borough Surveyor John Wilkin, concluded: “The flood water level was at least six inches higher than the previous highest flood level on October 16, 1898.
“The River Board has now confirmed that the reason for the abnormal flood was the fact that the sudden thaw, which started on Wednesday, continued uninterrupted throughout the night, with warm temperatures over the whole of the catchment area.
“There was no other contributory factor.”
And now, 40 years later, the Environment Agency wants to channel £5m into a new flood defence programme for the River Wansbeck.
The money, which may be available as early as 2005, could be used to create a flood reservoir upstream of Morpeth, as well as improving defences in the town itself.
But the Agency has warned that Oldgate Bridge, built since the devastating deluge of 1963, would cost £3m to alter and is unlikely to feature in the plans.
Experts believe that a reservoir would be the best way of protecting Morpeth from the catastrophic effects of a major flood, which could engulf 1,200 properties and cause £10m worth of damage to the town.
Click here to go to flood photographs.
