The Holmfirth Flood (1910) - Preface

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PUBLIC DOMAIN DEDICATION
This page is part of the Holmfirth Flood Project and its content is believed to be in the Public Domain.
The following is a transcription of a historic book and may contain occasional small errors.

The Holmfirth Flood (1910)


Preface

It is now close on sixty years since the Holme Valley was the scene of a calamity which for magnitude had not up to that time been experienced in this country.

The bursting of the Bilberry Reservoir in the early morning of February 5th, 1852, and the loss of life and havoc to property caused by the rushing waters down the valley, called forth much sympathy from all parts of the United Kingdom, and even touched the hearts of people on the Continent, and subscriptions came in freely from all parts.

Holmfirth became known far and wide, and visitors to the town to this day are interested in the particulars given to them of that terrible calamity.

At various times brief accounts and short histories have been printed and sold. We have been asked many times to publish an authentic account, and have for some time been preparing material for publication in book form, with the result that can now be seen by the reader.

We do not pretend that every detail will be found in these pages, as most of the persons who went through the sad experiences of that time have gone to their rest, but we have tried to gain from various sources as many particulars as possible, so that this and future generations may have at hand a concise account of “The Holmfirth Flood.”

The Illustrations in the book have been produced by the photographic art from sketches made on the spot a day or two after the Flood. They can be relied on for accuracy, and show what sad havoc was caused by the rushing torrent down the valley.

THE EDITOR.
“Express” Office, Holmfirth, November, 1910.