Reply To: Woodsome Mill, Woodsome Road, Farnley Tyas
…ah, it’s Wikipedia that says “Wednesday 21 July” but 21 July 1777 was a Monday. If it was the 23rd, odd that the JBA Trust list appears to cite an article published 15 July 1777.
I’ve checked the newspaper archives and the Leeds Intelligencer report is the only available local newspaper report. It was then reprinted verbatim in a number of other newspapers. However, I’ve spotted that the Ipswich Journal has a different report which also mentions the Colne Valley:
https://huddersfield.exposed/wiki/Ipswich_Journal_(02/Aug/1777)
Leeds, July 29. Wednesday evening the heaviest storm of rain fell about ten miles above Huddersfield, and on the edge of Lancashire, ever remembered by any person living : it came with such impetuosity off the hills, that it rose 4 yards in 15 minutes, and full seven yards higher than usual. All the bridges, mills, houses, and barns betwixt Marsden and Lockwood, near Huddersfield, within reach of the water, were swept down, as well as abundance of hay, and a great deal of corn, land and all, washed away. At Holmfirth 5 bodies were washed out of their graves, besides much other damage, and 3 men, who had got upon a new bridge, were drowned. Several persons also lost their lives in attempting to save their hay, &c. and many more have lost their all in the sudden deluge. In short, it is scarcely possible to enumerate the mischief occasioned by this dreadful water-fall, which some imagine to have been owing to the bursting of a cloud. It began to rise about 8 o’clock, and the water was pretty well abated at midnight.