Tag: floods

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Animals Disasters Food and Drink Words

GONIEL

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n. Mutton from dead sheep.

On the 21st January 1794, a sudden storm hit the Solway Firth area causing major floods. The toll, found at low tide on the Beds of Esk was:

1840 sheep
9 cattle
3 horses
3 people
45 dogs
180 hares
and innumerable smaller animals.

It was remembered as the Goniel Blast.

References

Dictionary of the Scots Language. https://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/goniel

Hyslop, J.D. and R. Hyslop (1912) Langholm as it was : a history of Langholm and Eskdale from the earliest times. John Menzies & Co, Edinburgh, pg. 850

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Disasters

Rowboats in the aisles

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In September 1421, the Tyne flooded so badly that “a great many houses were entirely defaced” in Haddington. The waters were still high on the Feast of St Ninian (16th Sept) so parishioners had to row boats into the church to pray.

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Disasters

Great Govan Flood of 1454

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On the 25th and 26th November 1454, the entire town of Govan was put “in ane flote” by “ane richt gret spait”. Every inhabitant had to sit on the roofs of their “houssis, bernis, and millis” as the flood took them sailing down the Clyde.

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Disasters

Gorbals Whisky Flood

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On 21st November 1906, a 150,000 gallon wash tun at the Loch Katrine Distillery in the Gorbals burst, sending a 20 foot wave of hot whisky into the streets killing 1 and injuring 10. Demolished in 1970, it is now the site of Glasgow Central Mosque.

photo credit: https://canmore.org.uk/collection/664

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Disasters

Great Glasgow Flood of 1831

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During a February thaw in 1831, an ice jam formed on the Clyde and wiped out 40 ships at the Broomielaw Bridge, killing several people and caused major floods, After the disaster the town widened the river significantly.

The 1831 flood caused the Clyde to rise 18ft (5.5m) above the normal high tide level. An earlier flood in 1782 peaked at just over 20ft (6.1m) above normal!

Maps from NLS Maps site (from 1807 and 1857).