April
Archive sources indicate that April could be a cruel and
sometimes an extreme month for weather. The weather was often
variable, veering between very warm spring days and late snows. In
1927, for example, maximum temperatures ranged from 40° to 70°
Fahrenheit and minimum temperatures between 23° and 46° Fahrenheit,
with snow and frost at the end of the month. In 1874, heavy snow in
the Staffordshire Moorlands on 17 April reduced school attendances.
In 1885, the temperature moved up by 21° Fahrenheit in just five
days and from snow to scorching sun.
Formal weather records from the past usually note the date of the
arrival of swallows. It was usually around the middle of the month
in Staffordshire, although the date could be earlier, for example
9th April in 1909 at Weston- under- Lizard.
As in the farming year this was one of the lambing months, such late
cold weather could have an adverse effect on new lambs as shown in
the extract for 10-16 April 1843. Early drought and cold weather in
April could also delay the growth of grass and early crops as in
1681 and 1738.
The extracts are arranged chronologically by the day to show the
progression of weather through the month.
Snow and Flood at Trentham, 1-8 April 1858
Late Spring
at Freehay, 3 and 24 April 1865
A Hot
and Cold April in Longnor, 1-30 April 1909
Snow
and Lambs at Weston Coyney, 10-16 April 1843
A Burst of
Spring at Teddesley, 15 April 1840
Snow, Swallows and the Cuckoo Arrive at Weston-under Lizard, 16-23
April 1885
Spring Snow in
Alstonefield, 17 April 1874
Fine Weather for Planting Mangel Wurzles at Hanchurch, 18 & 21 April
1827
Mixed Weather for Spring Farming at Penkridge, 17-23 April 1869
Child Saved in Electrical Storm at Sedgley, 23 April 1797
Alstonefield Children Away From School, 24 April 1874
A Snowy Day at
Teddesley, 27 April 1861
A Warm
Cycle Ride from Bridgetown, 26 April 1916
Long Drought Begins in
April, 1681
The
Greatest Hail Storm in Man’s Memory, April 1738
Poor Growing
Weather at Trentham, April 1833
From the Weather Journal for Trentham
Journal of the Weather for April 1858
Date
|
Day
|
Weather
8AM
|
Weather
8PM
|
Thermo
meter
AM
|
Thermo
meter
PM
|
Wind
|
Remarks
|
1
|
Th.
|
Fair
|
Fair
|
41
|
34
|
NE
|
This month commenced very cold & stormy. Heavy rain
all night.
|
2
|
F
|
Fair Frosty
|
Rain & Snow
|
31
|
34
|
SE
|
Snow all afternoon
|
3
|
S
|
Rain & Snow
|
Fair
|
45
|
47
|
WNW
|
Lowest during night 31 Highest during day 55
|
4
|
Su
|
Rain
|
Fair
|
40
|
39
|
E
|
|
5
|
M
|
Fair
|
Fair (very high wind)
|
46
|
37
|
SE
|
|
6
|
T
|
Fair
|
Fair (cold harsh wind)
|
38
|
37
|
ESE
|
|
7
|
W
|
Rain
|
Heavy rain
|
36
|
35
|
SE
|
Heavy rain continuously since
2 o’clock am
|
8
|
Th
|
Rain & Snow
|
Rain & Snow
|
33
|
35
|
SE
|
Flood 27 inches
8 o’clock
|
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D593/N/2/8/15
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From
the Log Book for Freehay National School
3 April- There is a wonderful change in the weather, but owing to
the very lengthy winter, a good many of the upper boys have to stay
at home & help their fathers on their several Farms- weeding &
getting ready for sowing, especially for oats & potatoes at this
time.
24 April- Attendance very fair, though we cannot expect to have the
Children for a week or so because the weather is so beautifully fine
& now is the time for weeding & planting potatoes, & on account of
the very severe winter most of the small farmer[s] are behind in
their ordinary work- those children who came to School did well in
all subjects
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3656/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From
a Local Farmer’s Diary
1 April- A Fine day But cold. Will Cleaning Loft Floor up and Making
Rat Holes up.
9 April, Good Friday- Lovely fine day Very Hot and sunny. I sowed
all Garden Seeds & Leet Cabage. Mr GH Mellor called here I went with
him to the Lawns Fram to Mr Westons, he came back with me had
Tea.
24 April, Saturday, A Stormy day with Ocasional Peals of thunder at
a distance. Will and myself walling Gaps in Middle Ground. … it was
a Derby day at Butterton with Hulme End & Warslow
30 April- A Very cold day With Storms of Snow at hail. I put wash
Gutter in and Gathered some bedding in Farbanks.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6794
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Diary of Jacob Marsh, Farmer, of Weston
Coyney
The number 22 in the entry for Wednesday 12 April is the identifying
number of the sheep giving birth to the lambs on that day.
Monday 10 April- This week begins with a Snowy morning, frost in the
night, very cold with storms of Snow at intervals thro’ the day.
Tuesday 11 April- Snow & hail on the ground this morning, cold in
bed in the night, very cold all day. Caverswall Fair continued until
10 o’ Clock at Night
Wednesday 12 April- Frosty night cold this morning, very cold again
today colder I think than ever. 2 more Lambs of 22 9 o’clock at
night.
Thursday 13 April- Deep snow, winter again. Lambs under the Hedges &
Tree roots
Friday 14 April- Wet cold morning. Thorough days rain young Lambs
starved . Cow calved 12 o’clock Night, wench calf.
Saturday 15 April- Mild morning. Mrs walked to L[ane] end returned
in Break
Sunday 16 April - dull morning rather wet.
Reference: Stoke on Trent City Archives SD
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Diaries of Lord Hatherton, Teddesley
Park, near Penkridge
Magnificent day. Spring bursting forward with wonderful rapidity.
This part of the country much milder than London, having had much
rain- rode about all day.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D260/M/F/5/26/14
By courtesy of Mr ARW Littleton
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From
the Weather Books of the Weston Park Estate, 1885
Date
|
Max Temp
|
Min Temp
|
Wind
|
Barometer
|
Rainfall
|
Remarks
|
15 April
|
49
|
36
|
E
|
29.50
|
0.29
|
Fine morning, rain & snow in the night
|
16 April
|
42
|
33
|
N
|
29.45
|
0.27
|
Snow & rain all day
|
17 April
|
59
|
33
|
N
|
29.68
|
0
|
Fine day
|
18 April
|
62
|
33
|
NE
|
29.84
|
0
|
Fine day. Swallows arrived
|
19 April
|
66
|
35
|
N
|
29.90
|
0
|
Fine day. Scorching sun
|
20 April
|
70
|
37
|
SW
|
29.92
|
0.01
|
Fine day. Light shower in the Night
|
21 April
|
70
|
43
|
S
|
29.70
|
0
|
Fine Day
|
22 April
|
63
|
45
|
S
|
29.43
|
0
|
Fine day. Cuckoo heard, half a gale at Night
|
23 April
|
60
|
40
|
S
|
29.28
|
0.01
|
Fine day
|
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D1287
By courtesy of The Weston Park Foundation
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Log Book for Alstonefield National
School
There was a rather heavy snow storm on Monday morning. The snow was
not quite gone until 3pm. It reduced attendance considerably
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3805/1/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From
the Memoranda Book of William Lewis, Local Agent to the Duke of
Sutherland
Lewis kept a daily account of his business transacted on behalf of
the estate between 1816 and 1837. From 1821 it is virtually a
diary giving information for each day and usually some account of
the weather.
18 April- A very fine day remained nearly all day on Hanchurch farm
Finished planting Potatoes, all hands now busy preparing the Ground
for Mangel Worzle
21 April- A very fine day drove to Aston and remained there some
hours began sowing Mangle Worzle in fine Condition returned to
Trentham went up to the farm Hunt busy sowing Mangle Worzle in very
fine condition.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D593/L/2/2b
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From
the Account of Servants and Labourers at Deanery Farm, Penkridge
In addition to the daily record of the weather, the amount of
information given in this type of record is considerable. The names
of all the labourers and farm servants working on this farm are
recorded, together with information about their particular daily
task. We can see the variety of agricultural work in the spring, all
of which would have been carried out without mechanisation. So, for
example, lads and a girl had to be employed to drive draught
animals. The final columns record the wage paid, giving us a clear
insight into the economic status of farm labourers.
Names
|
Saturday 17
|
Monday 19
|
Tuesday
20
|
Wednesday 21
|
Thursday 22
|
Friday 23
|
Per Day
|
£
|
s.
|
d.
|
Weather
|
E[ast] Rain
|
Fair
|
rain
|
Fair
|
Fair
|
Fair
|
|
|
|
|
Spicer John
|
Plough
|
Drill
Barley
|
Scuffle & Ridge
|
Plough
|
Ridging
|
Plough
|
2.4
|
|
14
|
|
Spicer Wm
|
Plough
|
Harrowing
|
Ditto and Plough
|
Plough
|
Ditto Harrowing
|
Plough
|
2.4
|
|
14
|
|
Addison John
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
2.4
|
|
14
|
|
Horton Joseph
|
Engine
|
Engine & Garden ½
|
Garden
|
Sow grass seeds
|
Garden & sow Mangels
|
Garden & sow Mangels
|
2.2
|
|
12
|
|
Wincer John
|
Ditching
|
Ditching
|
Banking
|
Banking & Gapping
|
Banking
|
Sow Clover seeds
|
2.2
|
|
12
|
|
Lowe Ben
|
Jobs
|
Drilling
|
Jobs
|
Jobs
|
Sow Guano etc
|
Jobs
|
2.2
|
|
13
|
|
Spicer Will
|
Feed Cows
|
Feed Cows
|
Feed Cows & Plough
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
Rolling
|
1.2
|
|
7
|
|
Lads
|
drive
|
drive
|
drive
|
drive
|
drive
|
drive
|
8d
|
|
8
|
|
Mary Addison
|
drive
|
Clean Mangolds
|
Clean Mangolds
|
Clean Mangolds
|
Clean Mangolds
|
Clean Mangolds
|
10 d
|
|
4
|
2
|
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D1108/21
© Staffordshire Record Office
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From A History of Staffordshire by William Pitt
On Monday April 23rd 1797 during a violent thunder-storm, a
fire-ball fell into the chimney of a house occupied by Stephen Cox,
a nailer of Sedgley, whilst he and his wife were sitting by the
fire-side, and their child was sleeping on a chair near them.
Hearing the extraordinary noise in the chimney, the mother snatched
the child and thereby saved its life, as the pillow upon which it
had lain was scorched, and a great quantity of bricks fell
near it. The electric fluid passed through two houses adjoining,
and, attracted by a nail, penetrated into a back kitchen, and forced
out a piece of the door, which appears as if cut with a knife: it
partially melted in its passage the wards of a lock and the key that
was in it; part of the lead in the windows of all three houses was
also melted, and a piece of one on the window frames struck off.
William Salt Library: A History of Staffordshire. William Pitt
1817
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From the Log Book for Alstonefield National
School
Both plants referred to in the extract below were quite troublesome
weeds so these children may have been helping to clear the ground
for the planting of potatoes.
The weather has been remarkably fine this week and in consequence
several children were absent gathering “foal’s foots” [coltsfoot]
and two boys absent “picking twitch”.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3805/1/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From
the Diaries of Lord Hatherton of Teddesley Park, near Penkridge
The poetic description of ‘wearing its white cap’ simply means that
the snow lay all day. Teddesley Head is at a slightly higher ground
level.
Snow on the ground which fell till 11- but thawed quickly. Teddesley
Head wore its white cap all day. Teddesley Head is much colder than
Teddesley Park, as the latter is colder than Penkridge.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D260/ M/F/5/26/90
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Diary of Mrs Elizabeth Hagar Whitehouse
I cycled to Wolverhampton with Don, the first ride for me this
season, it was a lovely day but rather warm
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6788/1
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From
the Parish Register of Alstonefield
A very strong and fiery Meteor in form like a sword appeared in the
north west by West in December 1680 & continued about six weeks
after which there ensued a tedious & long drought which began Aprill
the 10th 1681 & continued till June the 20th of the same year which
(as the Wisest thought) procured many pestilentious diseases as
agues, strong Feavours, smallpox cum multis aliis [with many others]
of which many died in the Countrey, chiefly in great Cities & Towns
Corporate.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D922/2
By courtesy of the Vicar and PCC of Alstonefield
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Diary of Dr Richard Wilkes of Willenhall
Till the middle of the Month the Weather was good, the Air mild &
the Spring advanced so fast that we had Grass & other Vegetables as
forward as they are in the middle of May most years; but on the 19th
the Wind changed to the North, the Glass fell & we had in the
Afternoon Hail, Rain and Snow. In Derbyshire & more Northward they
had a great Snow which lay on the Hills till the 24th. On the 26 at
Handley [Hanley] Green was the greatest Hail Storm that had been
known in the Memory of Man. Till the end of the Month the Air was
colder than in December so that Vegetation was at a Stand. The sun
did not appear as I can remember on the 4 last Days of this Month.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 5350
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Trentham Farm Bailiff’s Report
The greater part of this month has been very ungenial for
vegetation, consequently there is at present a want of grass in the
pasture land, the nights generally have been frosty attended with
cold rain on the following days
Reference : Staffordshire Record Office D593/L/6/2/15
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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