October
Archive sources show that October was a month which included just
about every type of weather, even snow as in 1917. The month is
associated with Indian summers and there are certainly examples of
these in the past. In 1921, for example, temperatures were
consistently in the 70s Fahrenheit, even reaching 80° on one day,
between 1st and 11th October. The years 1873, 1906, 1909 and 1954
are also examples of Indian summer periods.
The month could also be a wet one. The earliest source of
information about weather for the county, the Croxden Chronicle,
records great floods of rainwater during the autumn of 1330,
including October. The year 1875 saw heavy flooding in the county in
late October and in 1891, 5.19 inches of rainfall were recorded
during the month. In 1913 nearly two inches of rain fell during 26
hours of incessant rain.
For gardeners October has always been the month to see the first
frosts. 1955 was a particularly cold October with 7° of frost
recorded as early as 16th October. It is also a month of strong
winds and there are examples from the past of gales causing
structural damage, as in the case of Stafford’s Borough Hall in
1877. Violent gales from the north east also caused much damage to
trees in October 1910.
Formal weather records note the departure of swallows in October as
well as their arrival in April. In 1901, 1905 and 1910 the last
swallows were seen very late in the month on 30th, 31st and 29th of
the month respectively.
The extracts are arranged chronologically by the day to show the
progression of weather through the month.
Fine Weather and Blackberries at Freehay, 3 October 1873
Rain
Closes School at Huntington, 4th October 1900
Disappointing Eclipse at Lane End, 10 October 1847
Rain
Reduces School Attendance at Alstonefield, 10-24 October 1902
A Rainy Week for Farming at Penkridge, 12-18 October 1872
A Windy Trip to
Stoke, 14 October 1916
Changing Winds, Illness, and A Family Death at Sandon, 16-22 October
1843
Flood at Onneley, 16
October 1891
Miserable
Rains at Spotacre, 18 October 1923
From a Local Farmer’s Diary
More Floods at
Burton, October 23 1875
Cool October in
Rudyard, 23 October 1916
Gale Cancels Concert at Stafford Borough Hall, 24 October 1877
Inclement Weather Affects Harvest at Trentham, October 1816
Changes of Air Lead to Fever in Staffordshire, October 1737
From the Log Book of Freehay National School
It was thought that the blackberries could not have come to maturity
for want of sunny days, but owing to the sudden change of most
lovely weather, there has been an abundance of them, The children go
to gather them & the consequence has been a considerable reduction
in the school. The VI Standard especially are progressing very
favourably.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D 3656/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Log Book of Huntington Church of England
School
A very heavy rain today. The children who went home to dinner did
not return for the afternoon. The school was therefore closed.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office CEL23/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Diary of Jacob Marsh, Farmer, of Lane
End
The week of October 4 leading up to the eclipse on Saturday 10th
October had been unsettled with rain on most days. By the day of the
eclipse, there was a thick mist, disappointing the diarist.
Monday 4 October – Fine day Dined at Messrs Haywood. Bought a Pig
Tuesday 5 October – Fine in the morning. Rain after dinner. Sale at
the rotten Row. Settled and the money paid with expences
Wednesday 6 October- rainy day Storny [stormy] and cold
Thursday 7 October - Rain continues worse- uncommon bad. Whiley the
Tailor from London called and paid Order’d more not wanted
Friday 8 October - very wet most of the day
Saturday 9 October - Thick mist no seeing the Eclips, fine after
clear’d off. Total Eclipse of the Sun 7 o’clock in the morning. Mr
Holbrooke Arrived
Sunday 10 October - Wet morning. No Church
Reference: Stoke on Trent City Archives SD 1465
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Log Book of Alstonefield National School
Oct 10th- attendance this week not quite so good. The wet weather
has affected it Average for the week 74.6
Oct 13th Half holiday this afternoon. School required for a Concert
Oct 17th - very Wet day- Attendance Poor. Th attendance during the
early part of the week was very good. The Av[erage] for the week
75.6. The Rev AB Purchas gave a scripture lesson on Wednesday
Morning. School work has been of an ordinary routine character
Oct-24th - The Attendance has fallen off this week. Five
children absent the whole of the week through sickness. The wet
weather has also affected the attendance. Both the Vicar & the Rev
A.B Purchas visited the School. Average Attendance 70.7
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3805/1
© 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 particular record is considerable. The
names of all the labourers and farm servants working on this farm
are listed, together with information about their daily task. We can
see the variety of agricultural work, all of which would have been
carried out with no mechanisation. So, for example, three lads and a
girl had to be employed to drive draught animals. The final columns
record the wages paid, giving us a clear insight into the economic
status of farm labourers.
Names
|
Saturday 12
|
Monday 14
|
Tuesday
15
|
Wednesday 16
|
Thursday 17
|
Friday 18
|
Per Day
|
£
|
s.
|
d.
|
Weather
|
Rain
|
Fair Frost
|
Fair Foggy
|
Rain
|
Rain
|
Rain
|
|
|
|
|
Spicer John
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
2.6
|
|
15
|
|
Spicer Wm
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
2.6
|
|
15
|
|
Addison John
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd & Thrash
|
Shepherd & Thrash
|
Shepherd
|
Shepherd
|
2.6
|
|
15
|
|
Horton Joseph
|
Spread dung
|
Spread dung
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Winnow
|
Winnow
|
2.4
|
|
11
|
8
|
Wincer John
|
Spread dung
|
Get Potatoes
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Winnow
|
Winnow
|
2.4
|
|
14
|
|
Lowe Ben
|
Spread dung
|
Get Potatoes
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Winnow
|
Winnow
|
2.4
|
|
11
|
8
|
Horton harry
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Plough
|
Plough
|
2.0
|
|
12
|
|
Lads
|
drive
|
drive
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
drive
|
drive
|
8d & 6d
|
|
7
|
|
Mary Addison
|
drive
|
drive
|
Thrash Wheat
|
Thrash Wheat
|
drive
|
drive
|
1.0
|
|
2
|
|
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D1108/21
© Staffordshire Record Office
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From the Diary of Mrs Elizabeth Hagar Whitehouse
of Bridgetown
Cars of this era offered little protection from the elements as this
extract shows.
Motored to Stoke in the afternoon, had a very nice run there but
rather windy. Don went with us. I did not think Aunt was looking
well though she seemed very bright. It rained in torrents coming
home & nearly blew us out of the Car.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6788/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Diary of Jeremiah Ginders of Sandon
Ginders was the agent to Earl Talbot but lived at Sandon Mill. This
extract records the details of the weather, including the wind
direction, the visits of Dr Tylecote, the local doctor from Great
Haywood, and the death of his eldest son Jeremiah. It also
shows Ginders’ bent for graphic design.
Monday 16 October. E[ast] showers. Ill. Dr Tilecote fitchen
[fetched] in my safety carriage, he was very unwell but came & his
wife with him- pronounced me a shade better.
Tuesday 17 October. S[outh] wet night and Stormy day and wet
morning. W[est] misling rain. Sent for 2 Loads of Hay from Lofthouse
at Enson fearing from a report that all was not right.
Wednesday 18 October W[est] Ill.
Thursday 19 October frosty morning. Tylecote and his Lady came
Friday 20 October- E[ast] frosty morning wet evening. G Smith London
Tailor here. Mrs Myatt & … from Biddulph called on their way to
Hopton.
Saturday 21 October N[orth] W[est] damp morning. My Poor Dear Son
Jeremiah died at Hilderstone Windmill Inn on Friday the 20th inst.
at 2 o’ clock in the afternoon.
Sunday 22 October S[outh] wet. Ellen his widow went on Sunday
evening to see him before he was moved from the place.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6850/2
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Log Book of Onneley Church Of England
School
16 October - On Thursday Alfred Mulliner, John Mulliner, Elizabeth
Mulliner, Ernest Bailey and Alfred Barrett were unable to attend
school owing to the flood caused by the heavy fall of rain during
the night.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3662/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From the Daily Journals of the Spotacre Nursery,
near Stone
Fine morning but unfortunately the wind turned south east & brought
on rains, not heavy but miserable Mr Thompstone from Hanley Park &
his son came to look out some Limes for Bucknall Hospital I had a
chat with Mr Thompstone
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6168/2
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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Although a farmer, the diarist also supplemented
his income as a coal merchant.
Thursday 21 October. A Fine Morning a Stormy Afternoon with Thunder
Hail & Rain. Will went to Hartington Station a Load of coal Brought
16 cwt [hundredweight]. Miss Bainbridge came & paid me for her coal.
Mr A Prince paid for his coal, post called.
Friday 22 October. A Very wet morning rather Better in Afternoon.
Will went to Hartington Station for Last Load coal. Brought 13 cwt &
one Rill Ale From Mr Grettons. Mr Isaac Brunt came here & Bought one
calving cow & Two Stirks £33-5-0.
Saturday 23 October. A damp dull day. Will cleaning Shippon [cowhouse]
out, Went to Kirkhams to pay them for Foal £8-0-0, post called with
papers. Fred Kirkham Brought Foal, his Brother James came. Will
cleaning Stone away from Back side.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6794
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service
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From The Staffordshire Advertiser
In October 1875, several parts of the county were hit by major
floods, notably Stafford, Penkridge, Burton-upon-Trent, Uttoxeter,
the Dove Valley and Walsall. The report in the county newspaper
gives a very full account of what occurred and is particularly
useful for its references to major floods in 1852 and in July 1875.
The following extract is only part of the account of the flooding in
Burton. Coincidentally at the time when this occurred, the Town
Commissioners were already considering flood prevention measures
based on the previous experiences of flooding in the town.
This county has been inundated to an extent never experienced in the
last fifty years at least. In November 1852 the largest flood on
record for many years occurred but that has been exceeded by
the floods of this week.
Burton- On-Trent
After two days of incessant rain, Burton is seriously flooded, the
greater proportion of the town being under water on Thursday night.
On Wednesday Branstone and the outskirts of the town were partially
submerged and in the evening the water began to flow into the town
by way of the Branstone Road and the Fleet Stones, and owing to the
backing up from the river in the lower part of the town, the sewers
early on Thursday morning began to pour forth water into Guild
Street and its surroundings. During Wednesday night the roar of the
stream through the Leicester and Burton viaduct could be heard a
mile off…. People with their families had to betake to themselves to
their bedchambers, and in not a few cases, families, poultry, pigs,
furniture, rabbits etc were occupying much the same accommodation in
upstairs rooms….. From early morning the provision shops were
besieged with persons anxious to procure requisites for a several
days siege and the brewers’ carts were all day busy removing goods,
livestock , distributing provisions, conveying men to and from their
work and in meeting the needs of all in embarrassed circumstances.
The flood took much the same course as in July last, but was much
higher both in the town and in the river and in several parts
reached further than in July 1852.
Reference: William Salt Library, Staffordshire Advertiser, 23
October 1875
By courtesy of the Staffordshire Newsletter
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From the Weekly Reports of the State of the
Reservoir
Rudyard Lake was built in 1797 as a reservoir to support the growing
canal network in North Staffordshire. As well as the state of the
reservoir itself, this record gives information about the weather.
North Staffordshire Railway Company
Weekly Report of the State of the Reservoir
23 October 1916
Under level 6am- 3 feet
Under level 6pm – 3 feet 1 inch
Paddles open day – ¼
No of paddles open- 1
Commenced water running- 5pm
Paddles open night ¼
No of paddles open -1
Stopped water running- 10am
Rain gauge – 7 inches
Thermometer highest - 41
Thermometer lowest - 40
Weather – Showery
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6783/1/6
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Letter to Stafford Borough Council Seeking
Compensation,
30 October, 1877
Earl Street,
Stafford
October 30th 1877
Sir,
By my concert which was to have taken place in the Borough Hall on
Wednesday the 24th of this month, and which, on account of the
damage done to the Hall by the gales, had to be given at the Shire
Hall, I have suffered a loss of at least £20. And as this loss has
been brought about principally by the additional, advertising
expenses and shifting from a superior place for which the concert
was originally designed to an inferior one, I think that the Town
Council owes me some compensation. I would willingly bear one half
of the loss, if the Town Council would bear the remainder.
I most respectfully beg you to bring this matter before the Council
at its next meeting.
I remain, Sir,
Sincerely Yours
Fr. Lichtenberger
To
Mr F Blackston Esq.
Town Clerk
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3123/T/1/28
By courtesy of Stafford Borough Council
© Staffordshire Record Office
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From the Report of the Trentham Home Farm Bailiff
Harvest finished except for the Beans of which there are still about
12 acres to be cut. Grain of all descriptions much injured by the
inclemency of the Weather. Turnips- Swedes but an indifferent crop,
Norfolks, a fair crop
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D593/L/6/2/2
© Staffordshire Record Office
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From the Diary of Dr Richard Wilkes of Willenhall
The fever described by Dr Wilkes in this extract was not just
confined to Staffordshire and was not life- threatening.
At the Beginning of this & the latter End of the last Month we had
frequent Changes of the Air even in the same Day from hot to cold so
that Coughs, Sore Throats & an Inflammatory Fever which run thro’
whole Families were all over the Countrey.
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 5350
© Staffordshire Record Office
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