THE HIGH TIDE OF NOVEMBER 29, 1897. 281
60 and 70 sheep were drowned. The earth from this breach was so washed
over as to destroy a valuable oyster-laying in the Creeks. Bridgemarsh,
an island situated on the north bank of the Crouch, was completely
obliterated for a time, no trace of the land or sea-wall being visible. The
inhabitants were rescued in boats, but many sheep were drowned. In many
places the sea-walls of the Crouch were destroyed and the adjacent lands
flooded; perhaps the worst breach being at Eastlands Farm, Bradwell.
Here about 60 acres were recovered from the sea some 30 or 40 years ago,
a new sea-wall, 150 yards in extent, being put up. This new embankment
was washed away bodily, and the water, rushing in, carried with it light
barley stacks, which it floated to the old wall and left them there almost as
shapely as when they started on their voyage.
It would be tedious to recount all the damage done to lands and property
adjacent to the Thames. Shoeburyness and district suffered severely, the
water getting into the Cambridge Hotel, and the whole place was one
sheet of water—about 200 acres being covered. The street was full of boats
which were rowed up and down. At Great Wakering many farms were
completely covered. The flood reached Wakering Church, and stood two
or three feet deep in the roads and houses, the people retreating to the upper
rooms. At Southend, a considerable part of the District known as the
Lower Town was flooded and very great damage was done. This would have
been increased but for the fact that there was hardly any " sea " at the time
of the abnormal tide. At Leigh the water flowed over the High Street
and into the houses. Boats were sailed up the street, and an eight-oared
boat was rowed up. Between Benfleet and Pitsea, the ballast and other
supporters of the down metals on the railway were washed away for about
two miles, and the whole of the line flooded for that distance. The Bowers
and Pitsea Marshes were overflowed, the sea-wall having given way in
many places; at Casey Farm, there were no less than 15 breaches. Mr.
Williams reports that he. saw a couple of hawks at work, no doubt
capturing mice and moles which made for the uplands- in great numbers.
From the Vicarage-hill at Benfleet, one could see seven or eight miles of
flooded land, extending from Canvey to Fobbing Marshes. Canvey was
half submerged, breaches being forced in the. walls, of which together
about 1,000 yards were destroyed. A house-boat occupied by a " Winkler,"
was carried right away over the Marshes and turned completely upside-
down. The "Lobster Smack" Inn was unroofed.
All along " London's River," at Stanford-le-Hope, Tilbury, Grays,
Purfleet, Rainham, Barking, &c., the water over-flowed, and thousands of
feet of river walls were damaged or destroyed. At Tilbury the water was
in places quite six feet deep. Even as near London as West Ham and
Stratford the water in the Creeks and the Lea River poured over the banks,
and covered the streets.
To use the words of Mr. W. Jaffrey, the Surveyor appointed
by the Dengie Levels Commissioners to report to them, the
tide would not have been exceptionally high had there been no
wind. The wind blew on Sunday evening from the south-west
and swept the waters heavily down the English Channel. Then
the wind changed, and on the Monday swept the waters up from