1860
Dec. Beeston Scarboro’ Torquay Fairlight
500 feet
above seaHigh Wickham
21 feet above
seaMarina
Invalid
Climate19th 23 28 30 30 20th 24 26 24 24.5 27 30 21st 26.2 30 26 25 27 29 22nd 27.2 33 22 29 27 30 23rd 21 26 25 22 25.5 26 24th -5 21 32 20 21.5 25 25th -8 16 33 20 21 24
The intense frost threw a great many mechanics and labourers out of employment, and the distress among workmen was never much more severe; indeed, for a time, the suffering was such that before a special system of relief could be organised, several workmen canvassed St Leonards, and St. Mary Magdalen, as well as parishes in the old town, for subscriptions. Afterwards, about £50 of the balance of a former relief fund, together with £30 or £40 of fresh subscriptions, were distributed among the poor in bread and other necessities. The breaking up of the frost put an end to the appeals for charitable contributions.
Remarkable Temperatures. On the 26th of April, under the supposed influence of Jupiter, the day was fine and balmy, with a thermometric reading of 62 degrees, realising the forecast in Bretts’ St. Leonards Gazette, “Now Jove and Luna bid us say, prospectively a moderate day”; but on the morrow what a change! The thermometer then fell from the said 62 to 35 degrees, with rain and snow, together with a biting wind, as though it were midwinter; thus coincidently(sic) with the forecast – “But now again doth Saturn rule, and make the air both moist and cool; with somewhat breezy atmosphere; in some parts rain, in some parts rain – in some parts clear.
A Fearful Storm of lightning, thunder, hail and rain visited St. Leonards and Hastings on the 27th of June, thus realising the prediction, Mars and Herschel, Sol and Saturn, form a thund’ry, rainy pattern.” At Quarry Hill, St. Leonards, about forty feet of wall forming the boundary of Aylesbury House, just below the Archery Gardens, was thrown down. Walls were also overthrown at 5 Norman Road, and at Maze Hill. The roads were greatly cut up by the rush of water, and all the low levels were flooded to a considerable depth. The basement floors of the houses in and near Warrior square were invaded by the unusual torrent, which could -
