Cowley Lane Flood next to the Manor, 1956.
For seven hours thousands of gallons of black sludge and water poured across a 100 yard stretch of Cowley Lane, Chapeltown, and over the flower beds and lawns of Cowley Manor. Traffic between Rotherham and Chapeltown had to be diverted. The cause of the trouble was a breach of three or four yards in the bank of a Coal Board slurry settling dam in Hesley Wood. Part of the boundary wall of Cowley Manor had to be knocked down to allow the water and sludge to cascade into a culvert and sweep past the adjoining farmhouse into the Blackburn Brook and on into the River Don. When Wilfred Rhodes, who farmed Cowley Manor farm for Richard Weldon, went to feed his poultry he found a hen house floating. He released as many hens as possible and they remained perched on a partly submerged building for hours. By wading up to his waist through water and sludge he managed to recover a farm tractor but other farm implements were completely submerged. Mr R.V. Boyes, of Cowley Manor and his father-in-law, Mr J.W. Stringer, erected a barricade of stones, wood and earth to direct the water and sludge away from the front door of the manor house. When the torrent finally ceased workmen had the job of shovelling away thick mud from the road, drives and gardens.
Image Details
| Archiving Reference Number | C&HGA/E/207/b/V |
|---|---|
| Date | |
| Search Year | 1956 |
| Type | Photograph |
| Photographer/Artist | |
| Publisher | |
| Contributor/s | Mrs Boyes |
| Area | |
| Collection Holder | |
| Date Donated to the EDA | 1st October 2015 |
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