Derbyshire: Worst floods of the century

The floods of 1965

Flooding caused by the Derwent bursting its banks

DECEMBER 10, 1965 and Christmas was arriving far too quickly for Derbyshire families, just as it does every year.

Gifts were wrapped, the children had told Santa what they hoped to find in their stockings, the cards were ready for posting and everyone was excitedly preparing for the big day.

Then, suddenly, it began to rain. Nothing unusual for a wintry day in December, but this was rain like no-one had seen for years.

It fell incessantly – in stair rods, as the older folks often say – for two whole days. Without warning, thoughts of Christmas disappeared as water gushed through the streets, houses flooded, roads were blocked and people had to fight their way to safety.

Hardly a town, village or hamlet escaped as a lethal cocktail of constant rain and melting snow, rushing down from the Peak Park, caused five of the county’s rivers – the Derwent, Dove, Wye, Henmore and Ecclesbourne – to burst their banks.

Though many of the older people could recall flood damage caused back in 1932, these were much worse and eventually the damage caused was estimated at more than a million pounds.

Within hours, the floods had spread over a huge area. Waist-high water swirled through the streets, pouring into houses, flooding factories and schools, pubs and offices, ruining furnishings, washing machines, television sets, electric cookers and pianos. Wallpaper was stripped and floor tiles raised by the rising tide.

The emergency services were under tremendous strain as, together with local authorities and volunteer helpers, they tried to help families whose homes had been ruined. No-one escaped, even the higher areas like Ashbourne and Matlock suffered and Derby was especially badly hit.

Three people tragically died, but it was considered a miracle that the death toll was not much higher.

In Derby, it was the Derwent which caused the damage when it burst its banks near Darley Fields causing widespread misery, particularly in the nearby Chester Green and Mansfield Road areas.

Dozens of families were trapped in terraced housing and the Green itself – where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s troops had camped – was totally under water.

In Mansfield Road, the floodwater was nearly two feet deep and, inevitably, traffic around the rest of the town centre was in chaos, even though several areas were not badly affected.

The centre of the town was a no-go area for hours as thousands of motorists tried to get to work by alternative routes or attempted to make their way home after finding their place of work under water.

Derby firemen and workmen worked overtime to rescue trapped people as the water reached depths of five and six feet, forcing families to take to the bedrooms of their homes for safety.

After two days, the rains eased but then began to fall again as the mammoth clearing-up operation got under way and families started to stock-take their ruined furniture, carpets and other possessions.

There were countless stories of misery as people were evacuated to higher ground. For many, there was no hope of a happy Christmas; that would be spent drying out and clearing up.

Roads were blocked, transport at a standstill, children unable to go to their schools and industry in chaos with few people able to work properly.

The A6 was completely impassable in several places including Duffield, Ambergate and Matlock.

Ladybower Reservoir was a foot above the overflow level and Derwent Valley Water Board reported that, instead of the normal 20 million gallons being sent down from the reservoir, 1,000 million gallons would be released.

At Ashbourne, the floodwater was so deep that cars were completely submerged and, at Matlock, with conditions already chaotic, the river Derwent was still rising.

Duffield’s problems were caused by the Ecclesbourne and the Derwent overflowing simultaneously and about half a mile of the A6, through the village, turned into a river.

Some of the dramatic stories from flood victims included that of an elderly bed-ridden woman who had to be rescued by a fire float as the water rose almost up to her mattress at her house in Mansfield Road.

Many of those evacuated to higher ground and safety were bewildered young children, plucked from their warm beds and taken to sleep in makeshift cots at the Civil Defence headquarters in Osmaston Road.

For those who stayed in their homes, it was the longest and most fearful night in living memory.

Cold, hungry and many of them soaked to the skin, they related terrifying stories of flood waters swirling through the ground floors of their homes and, in many cases, half way up the stairs.

A 70-year old, Mrs Amy Steel, of Mansfield Road, said it was the third time she had experienced flooding in the area, but this was the worst.

Expectant mum Jean Mills (23), of Severn Terrace, whose baby was due at any time, was trapped upstairs in her home until help arrived.

Firemen went around the houses with hot soup and drinks but quite often doors and windows could not be opened because of the weight of the water and people had to make do with snacks.

One of the biggest tasks in the Mansfield Road area, the day after the floods, was clearing coke from blocked drains to allow the water to drain away. The coke had been washed into the drains from the nearby British Railways coal and coke depot.

Inevitably, there were unsung heroes – the rescue services, police, fire and ambulance staff – and there were many tributes to the dedication of the nuns from St Mary’s Convent who, tirelessly throughout the day and night, had worked offering food, dry clothing and comfort. They even helped to serve cups of tea from a public house.

Council workmen also came in for great praise when they turned out at all hours to repair and replace flagstones and coping stones which had been raised by the water in Nottingham Road.

Families who could not contact loved ones were distraught, including the family of 58-year-old railway worker, George Ellis, who was eventually found dead in Bentley Brook at Matlock, two days after he had last been seen attempting to cross a flooded car park bordering the brook.

A 17-year-old schoolboy from Abbotsholme School, Rocester, was also feared drowned after he disappeared while canoeing with another pupil; and a third person, William Kirk, of Milford, who was last seen driving a dumper truck near the River Derwent at the rear of Glow-Worm Boilers, was also believed to have perished.

There were numerous tales of bravery, particularly the efforts made by four police frogmen searching for Mr Kirk, who had to cling onto chains hanging from a crane while they searched the raging torrent for him.

Belper police said the divers had “done a magnificent job under extremely hazardous conditions”.

After three days, the Mayor of Derby, Councillor W H Bonell opened an appeal fund for the hundreds of residents who had been affected by Derby’s first civil disaster since the Second World War.

As the water receded it left sodden homes, ruined furnishings and a residue of sludge. Bags of dry coal were delivered to homes without heating to bring warmth in the miserable, freezing conditions and help people dry out their belongings.

The Derby branch of the Women’s Voluntary Services issued an appeal for paraffin heaters and newspapers to soak up the wet.

Things slowly began to return to normal but Christmas 1965 for many families was one they will never forget. There was good will but very little peace for anyone.

Here is a video clip taken on June 26th 2007 of the latest floods to hit the county.