Barway Data

Barway Data

1909 02 03
Fen Floods. After a week fraught with anxiety, and overshadowed by the darkest fears, the position in the Fen country is now easing. Yesterday a steady fall in the level of the water all round was reported. The watch on the banks of the rivers and lodes of Fenland however continues. Throughout the night 300 men patrolled between the 400 miles of the banks of the four rivers – the Great and Little Ouse, the Cam and the Lark. These patrols, equipped with field telephones, are part of the extensive flood prevention scheme which was organised by the Catchment Board following the floods two years ago. The scheme is now playing a vital part in defensive measures against another flood menace. The news of the gradual decrease in the level of the flood water has brought relief to scores of families, who had hurriedly to abandon their homes earlier this week. When the flood waters dropped nearly a foot in some parts on Wednesday, a number of families returned by boat to their homes and set about restoring order out of the chaos created by the water. At Barway, near Soham, where five families had hurriedly evacuated on Tuesday, there is mow said to be no danger. Yesterday men were working at Barway building a dam to relieve the pressure of Water on the gates of the lode. Steel piles are being driven into the bed of the river.

1919 03 12
5,000 Acres Under Water. — In consequence of three serious breaks in the banks caused by the recent floods, it is estimated that about 5,000 acres of farm land, including some smallholdings, are still under water to a depth of from 2 ft. to 5.ft. in Cambridgeshire. In places the water stretches as far as the eye can see, cottages, farm buildings, stacks and just the top rails of gates showing out of the water. The breaks which occurred in the banks holding back the water resulted in large areas, hitherto regarded as safe from the inroads of flood water, becoming inundated. The damage has been most extensive and in some cases tons of produce, particularly potato crops, have been rendered almost valueless. The places where the banks gave way were (1) at Barway, on the Soham Lode, (2) at Waterbeach Fen, on the river Cam, (3) at Stretham and Thetford Fen, on the Old West River. The worst break was probably at Barway, where the bank apparently gave way from underneath, after being undermined by the water. Huge portions of the bank were torn away by the rush of water and can be seen now dotted about in the floods like little islands.

1924 11 05

Four R.A.F. men had an exciting experience in an aeroplane crash at Barway. The Vickers Vimy developed engine trouble and a landing was made in a stubble field. For a score of yards the aeroplane ran along the ground at the rate of nearly 80 mph and all would have been well had not a four-foot dyke barred the way. The machine crashed into the opposite side of the dyke, its nose penetrating the earth. The impact caused the ‘plane to swerve completely round and almost turn a somersault. Fortunately it rebounded on a even keel and the airmen were able to alight, only one sustaining slight injuries

1939 02 01
Men at Barway worked in mud and water through the night to strengthen the sluice gates which divide Soham Lode from the main river. One large barge loaded with clay was wedged in the mouth of the lode. But when the bank burst huge clods of earth weighing many hundredweights were blown out by the water. The edges of the gap are so sheer and straight that they might have been cut out by a gigantic knife. With the earth went sandbags and all manner of other material used to strengthen the bank. Tarpaulin sheets had been stretched over the top of the bank and held down by weighted sacks. Parts of these are now lying in the water swirling through the gap 39 02 01 & c

1939 02 02
Throughout the night 300 men patrolled between 3-400 miles of the banks of the Ouse, Cam and Lark. The patrols, equipped with field telephones, are part of the extensive flood prevention scheme organised following the floods of two years ago. News of the gradual decrease in the water level has brought relief to scores of families who had abandoned their houses. A number have returned by boat to Barway and Soham and set about restoring order out of the chaos created by the water. 32 02 02b

Barway Scrapbook 1897 to 1990