River Roeburn
River Roeburn pre Aug1967 flood
Backsbottom Quarry Bridge
Site Map Home, Site Map and Film
River Roeburn Pre 1967 Location map and aerial photos
Wray Flood August 1967 Current river levels and rainfall
Backsbottom Farm 1967 Riverside Erosion
Natural Flood Management Events
Useful links Contact
River Roeburn Pre 1967 Location map and aerial photos
Wray Flood August 1967 Current river levels and rainfall
Backsbottom Farm 1967 Riverside Erosion
Natural Flood Management Events
Useful links Contact
1818 Map of
Roeburndale
Click on Images below for caption.
Roeburndale
Click on Images below for caption.
Bob Marshall who was a child in Wray at the time of the flood remembers the otters playing under MealBank Bridge.
Stickleback, lampreys, eels and decent sea and brown trout were common. He spent many of his days exploring the Roeburn with his friend Stephen and considered it their special domain.
Girls used to swim below Wray Bridge and the boys in the deeper Panhole..
Jean Sheard, Ruth Whittam's daughter remembers Mrs Isabella Brown (Wife of Thomas Brown see below) had a shed on the river bank below Wray bridge where she kept poultry and dressed poultry for other people. She used to throw the entrails into the river and large thick eels would come and feed on them.
Stickleback, lampreys, eels and decent sea and brown trout were common. He spent many of his days exploring the Roeburn with his friend Stephen and considered it their special domain.
Girls used to swim below Wray Bridge and the boys in the deeper Panhole..
Jean Sheard, Ruth Whittam's daughter remembers Mrs Isabella Brown (Wife of Thomas Brown see below) had a shed on the river bank below Wray bridge where she kept poultry and dressed poultry for other people. She used to throw the entrails into the river and large thick eels would come and feed on them.
Lancaster Guardian 0n 9th August 1892 The Lune rose 7 ft in 3 hours. (greater than the flood in 1891.)
"At Backsbottom the orchard was washed away and so were the potatoes growing in the garden at the other side of the farm premises. The road leading to the famous Backsbottom Quarry was rendered impassable and a portion of the new bridge which spans the Roeburn swept away.
At Wray the water rose fully 2ft 6in higher than the oldest inhabitant could remember.
At Backsbottom Mr Dodgson had water 2ft deep in the house. The pig was crouched in a corner with nose just out of the water.
A nasty landslip occurred on the farm, A portion of the orchard about 20 yards in width was washed down and the river is now where the ford was. Practically the road is destroyed for 100 yards below the bridge and and half the mill weir was washed away. The water which rushed with tremendous force against Smithy Brow and a considerable portion of the wall behind the Smithy was brocken down. The damage to the roadways is disasterous occurring just at this time, because the quarry is in full work and the completion of a number of orders will now be delayed"
Damage also occurred in Galgate, Ingleton, Dent, Kirkby Lonsdale, Arkholme, Caton, Barbon, Middleton, Wray, Hornby, Tatham, Burton in Lonsdale and Halton.
Lancaster Gazette
Aug 24 1867 Thomas Wilson was drowned when a railing on the bridge broke.
April 1850 Jane Stephenson aged 6 was drowned when crossing a plank over the river.
Barkin Bridge was rebuilt in 1687-8 see document below.
"At Backsbottom the orchard was washed away and so were the potatoes growing in the garden at the other side of the farm premises. The road leading to the famous Backsbottom Quarry was rendered impassable and a portion of the new bridge which spans the Roeburn swept away.
At Wray the water rose fully 2ft 6in higher than the oldest inhabitant could remember.
At Backsbottom Mr Dodgson had water 2ft deep in the house. The pig was crouched in a corner with nose just out of the water.
A nasty landslip occurred on the farm, A portion of the orchard about 20 yards in width was washed down and the river is now where the ford was. Practically the road is destroyed for 100 yards below the bridge and and half the mill weir was washed away. The water which rushed with tremendous force against Smithy Brow and a considerable portion of the wall behind the Smithy was brocken down. The damage to the roadways is disasterous occurring just at this time, because the quarry is in full work and the completion of a number of orders will now be delayed"
Damage also occurred in Galgate, Ingleton, Dent, Kirkby Lonsdale, Arkholme, Caton, Barbon, Middleton, Wray, Hornby, Tatham, Burton in Lonsdale and Halton.
Lancaster Gazette
Aug 24 1867 Thomas Wilson was drowned when a railing on the bridge broke.
April 1850 Jane Stephenson aged 6 was drowned when crossing a plank over the river.
Barkin Bridge was rebuilt in 1687-8 see document below.