On the night of 18/19 July 1955 a record 11 inches of rain fell at Martinstown and the floods hit the villages of the River Wey the following day.
Water levels in Radipole Lake rose and weeds and debris blocked the sluices at Westham Bridge leading to flooding in the Park District. Marsh Road and the Marsh were flooded, as was Preston and Sutton Poyntz. There were, sadly, two deaths, one when 12 year old Robin Crump drowned in a hole scoured out by the water at Watery Lane, Broadwey and at Preston Mr B.E. Bailey was killed by lightning when sheltering under a tree.
The aerial photos shows the level of the water in Radipole Lake and Radipole Park Drive, the Backwater and MelcombeRegis and Radipole Park Gardens. Coaches are under water in Westham Coach Park.
There will be many residents of Weymouth who will remember this day which happened 70 years ago in July.
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