> > >New post on Derbyshire Record Office > > > >[] > ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/author/tomwebbtempest/> >[] > > ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/hot-and-stormy-weather/>Hot >and Stormy Weather > > > >by <https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/author/tomwebbtempest/>tomwebbtempest > >The spring and summer of 2018 is promising to >become a memorable one. With record-breaking May >bank holiday temperatures, the ‘mother of all >thunderstorms’, recent heat-stoked wildfires >near the Saddleworth Moors, and the current >heatwave with a looming hose-pipe ban, the list >of extreme weather events is tallying up. These >events are seemingly at odds with common notions >of wet and moderate British springs and summers. >But it is worth remembering that thunder and >lightning storms, record-breaking temperatures >and heatwaves have always been part of Britain’s weather history. > >In recent years, members of the >‘<http://www.liverpool.ac.uk/history/research/research-projects/weather-extremes/>Weather >Extremes’ project have undertook extensive >archival research to uncover instances of >extreme weather events in British history and >have compiled over 18,000 records as part of the >TEMPEST database. Through their research, they >have uncovered a range of extreme weather >phenomena, including flooding, severe winters, >and, as pertinent to our very recent and current >weather conditions, summer lightning storms and heatwaves. > >As part of ‘Weather Extremes’ project, >members from the University of Liverpool and >Aberystwyth University (including myself) will >be hosting a free workshop at Derbyshire Record >Office on the 23rd July on the timely topic of >extreme weather. (For event and booking details, >please visit – ><https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-the-storm-officer-tickets-45928522447>https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-the-storm-officer-tickets-45928522447). >This workshop will introduce participants to the >freely accessible TEMPEST online database. Using >extracts from the database – some of which have >been catalogued following extensive archival >rresearch previously undertaken at Derbyshire >Record Office – we willl showcase a series of >short historical weather stories relating to >Derbyshire and other areas of Britain. Through >these stories, we will highlight the range of >materials researchers can explore for creating >their own weather histories. We will also reveal >the differing ways in which people have coped >and responded to extreme weather events in >particular times and places, and how extreme >weather events have been woven into the cultural >fabric of local communities. There will also be >an opportunity to view some of the materials >held at the DRO relating to weather and the >chance for participants to share their stories >and memories of extreme weather in their region. > >To provide a taste for the upcoming workshop, >and in light of the recent hot and stormy >weather events, the remainder of this blog post >is made up of some extracts that I have mined >from the TEMPEST database that relate to >Derbyshire and are held in paper form at the >DRO. These fascinating extracts cover drought, >death by lightning and the impacts of the famous >1906 heatwave on Morley. They demonstrate just >how tumultuous historical springs and summers have been in Derbyshire! > >1615 – Dry Summer and Drought > >In an entry in the Youlgreave and Winster Parish >Register from 1615 (D3644/42/1), we can see that >there was an extensive dry spell and severe >drought, which disrupted the harvest and would >have no doubt placed the local agricultural community under immense strain. > >1615 A Dry Summer > >There was no Rayne fell upon the Earth from the >25th day of March until the second day of May; >and then was there but one shower, after which >there fell none tyll the 10th day of June, and >then there fell an other; after wch there fell >none at all tyll the 4th day of August: after >which tyme there was sufficient Rayne upon the >Earth: so that the greatest part of this Land >especially the South parts were burnt up, both >Corne and Hay. (An ordinary Summer load of Hay >was at 2lb and little or none to be had for >money). This part of the Peake was very seve >burnt upp: only Lankashyre and Cheyshyre had >Rayne enough all Summer, and both Corne and Hay sufficient:- > >There was very little Rayne all the last Winter but snow only. > > 1739 & 1743 – Fatal Lightning Storms > >In a manuscript book of Derbyshire topography of >the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth >centuries (D349/1), we can see instances of both >animal and human fatalities from lightning >storms within the space of four years. > >Derby About 20th May 1739. They had for three or >four days very hot weather at Derby, accompanied >with much thunder and lightning, and heavy >storms of rain which did much mischief in that >Neighbourhood; particularly at Langley, four >miles from thence two horses belonging to Thomas >Grace of that Town were on the 22nd day in the >evening struck dead by the dreadful lightning. >Also about a mile from the said place a calf was >kill'd by lightning at the same time. > > Chesterfield, Derby > >In July 1743 was a violent storm of thunder and >lightning ta Chesterfield which continued for >several hours during which time Mr Larka Waiter >at Derby was struck dead by a flash of lightning , coming from Buxton > >1906 – Heatwave > >Unusually for a heatwave in Britain, the 1906 >heatwave was across August and September rather >than the more usual June and July. This proved >lucky for farmers in Morley who, according to >the Morley Parish Authorities (D1797/A/PZ/1), >had managed to collect in their harvest early >before the terrific heat scorched the earth and emptied the ponds. > >1906 > >A beautiful summer brought grand crops of hay & >corn which were gathered without any trouble. >The harvest was all over by the beginning of >Sept. The first corn was cut the last day in >July. After the harvest the country became >dreadfully burnt up & at the end of August the >heat was terrific. Nearly all the ponds were >empty & nearly all the springs dry - the >fountain near the Rectory gate supplied the >greater part of the drinking water for the whole parish > >With more hot weather anticipated this summer, >we may well start to see rivers, lakes and ponds >start to dry up. Thankfully we will not need to >rely on the local fountain for our water supplies. ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/author/tomwebbtempest/>tomwebbtempest >| 4 July 2018 at 2:19 pm | Categories: ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/category/news/>News >| URL: <https://wp.me/p1jCye-3qr>https://wp.me/p1jCye-3qr > ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/hot-and-stormy-weather/#respond>Comment ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/hot-and-stormy-weather/#comments>See >all comments > ><https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=bba82ab2519c1b6a78d8a94fa8662ac9&email=annete%40aapt.net.au&b=00D%2F%2F%7C%5BuxomxUtIb_%2FYL3a1c%7ClVYceENaaKz%7EFBsq9%2FR%3FLvCW>Unsubscribe >to no longer receive posts from Derbyshire >Record Office. Change your email settings at ><https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=bba82ab2519c1b6a78d8a94fa8662ac9&email=annete%40aapt.net.au>Manage >Subscriptions. > >Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: ><https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/hot-and-stormy-weather/>https://recordoffice.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/hot-and-stormy-weather/ > ><https://wordpress.com>Thanks for flying with >[] ><https://wordpress.com> WordPress.com