The Archive · 1925

Hampshire and Dorset

Widespread flooding prevails along the south coast in Hampshire and Dorset. In the Bournemouth di trict, especially at Christehurch, where the Rivers Stour and Avon meet and flow to the sea, the con-Junction of the flood water and the incoming tide from the sea has caused houses to be awash on their ground floors, On the main road {rom Christchurch to Southampton ye had to shift their fur-live upstairs. The road inundated to a depth of about 2 ft. Horse trafic hax been able to pass, and also"some of the larger motor-cars, but smaller cars been stopped and have had to towed out. The heaviest seas fever experienced have been wash-ting in at Swanage. From Christ church to Kingwood the road has been under water to a depth of 2 and practically impassable. For many acres around Christchurch the meadows have been turned into inland seas. The place looks rear lake.

On the west side of Bournemouth, in the Stour valley, villages are completely cut off for pedestrians, and only horse traffic can pass. One of the effects of the floods at Christchurch has been to tear houseboats from their moorings. They are now festing about in the middle of inundated fields. A motor ear struck in a flooded road just outside Christchurch. The motoring party consisted of four men and two women. One of the men of out to cross the flooded fields to get help. He dropped into a ditch. After swimming out of that he saw a unt floating about in the field. He fell into some more ditches and swam or ¢lambered out. In the fend he got to the punt. In thix hho reached the doorway of an hotel and of help for the five people ithe car. The vehicle was later towed to safety:

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