lynmouth flood 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032606/56649ea25503460f94ba6aa4/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952
…it’s going to be a very wet tale…
![Page 2: LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032606/56649ea25503460f94ba6aa4/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
setting the scene I
Lynmouth is situated on the North Coast
of Devon
…so where is this Lynmouth place?…
…oh, so that’s where all the action is going to take place!!…
![Page 3: LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032606/56649ea25503460f94ba6aa4/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
setting the scene II:
August of 1952 was extremely wet
the ground had become saturated
on the evening of August 15th 230mm (23cm) of rain fell in a freak storm
lasting 14hours (over 3000million gallons of water)
Immediate surface run-off causing a flash flood
…what were the CAUSES of the flood?…
…I’m singing in the rain, I’m singing– hang on it’s getting very wet here! …
![Page 4: LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032606/56649ea25503460f94ba6aa4/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
setting the scene III:…yep – you guessed it, more
CAUSES…
Impermeable (water can’t soak in) rocks mean increased run-off
Steep river gradient & small drainage basin & narrow river valley’s
The River Lyn had been narrowed and diverted - to build hotels & stuff!
…hmm – good idea? let me think …
![Page 6: LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032606/56649ea25503460f94ba6aa4/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
the impacts
…this is all pretty serious stuff…
The narrow arch of the river became blocked & the river flowed down the main
street – following the easiest path
34 people killed & 90 houses/hotels destroyed &
130 cars/19 boats destroyed
Over 100,000 tonnes of boulders left in the main street – one boulder found in the basement of a hotel weighed 7.5 tonnes
Rocks of 10m3 moved by traction
![Page 7: LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952 …it’s going to be a very wet tale…](https://reader030.vdocument.in/reader030/viewer/2022032606/56649ea25503460f94ba6aa4/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Lynmouth Today
…phew! glad they did something…oh! one last thing!…
(A)River takes natural route (same as flood)
(B)Floodplain left to take water
(C)Larger & wider bridges
(D)Where hotel was is now open
(E)Channel has been straightened to allow
water to flow away more quickly