150 years since Great Sheffield Flood 1864

Floods were much in the news this winter. 150 years ago, the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 not only damaged and destroyed large amounts of property; it caused a great loss of life, wiping out whole families.

The reservoir at Dale Dyke was completed during the winter of 1863-1864. By 11th March 1864 it had almost reached its full height. On the stormy night of 11 March, the dam burst and 600 million gallons of water swept down through Bradfield and Loxley destroying mills and cottages. The flood roared on to Hillsborough, then along the River Don valley, through Neepsend, the Wicker and Brightside to Attercliffe, leaving death and destruction in its wake.

The recovered bodies were taken to nearby pubs or the Kelham Workhouse where the Sheffield Daily Telegraph described the scene:

“We visited the Workhouse yesterday and a more distressing appalling sight it is altogether impossible to imagine. We entered a room where lay the dead and we counted one hundred and twelve bodies. Although there was an anxious crowd seeking their loved ones very few had at the hour of our visit been recognised. Nor is this to be wondered at. Whole streets of houses have been swept away – fathers, mothers, children, neighbours, friends and there are none left to recognise many of the bodies”

More casualties were found in the following weeks as buildings, mud and debris were cleared. 240 fatalities were recorded. Others may have died later as a result of injury or illness caused by the flood.

Burngreave Cemetery

Around 30 of the victims were buried in Burngreave Cemetery. One of the graves is on the left of the central avenue leading up from the chapels. The headstone reads:

Peter Webster aged 31 years

Sarah Webster his wife aged 30 years

Also Robert aged 4 years and Joseph Edward aged 18 months

All the above were drowned in the flood at Sheffield March 12th 1864

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away; and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. Job 34.20.v

Another grave (pictured) of the King family can be found to the left of the chapels near Woodland Walk.

Burngreave Cemetery Chapel is open on Sundays: April to October from 11:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and November to March from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm.

Compensation Claims

A Commission was set up by Parliament to deal with claims for injury or losses caused by the failure of the dam. The Sheffield Water Company increased their charges by 25% for the following five years to recoup some of their losses. Samuel Spooner, a pocket blade grinder of Burngreave Road claimed for loss of working tools (£6), loss of wages, employment and rent (£3 15s) and damaged work (£1), a total of £10.15s and he was lucky in that he received the full amount.

Elizabeth, widow of Edward Riley of Hillfoot put in a much larger claim of £45.13s. She claimed for loss of and damage to furniture and effects, a fat pig and piggery, loss of clothing, food, funeral expenses and administration. She received £15; this barely covered funeral expenses and loss of food and clothing.

A Doctor at Hillsborough, claimed a total of £840, including £300 for:

“Damage to Claimant's Practice from drowning of Patients, removal of Patients, deterioration of district for practice and from Claimants own past and present ill health.” He was awarded £177.