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20th Century flooding and the Thames Barrier - part 1

7th January 1928

Numerous areas in London and the surrounding local authorities were flooded. In Lambeth, 14 people drowned in their basement flats. The first report of the flooding was received by PC A. Jones, who had been patrolling his beat when he reached the junction of Horesferry Road and Lambeth Bridge. He saw, and heard, the wall collapse, and said that the water was “flowing in such volume, that it was impossible to stand against”. Other police officers at the scene immediately raised the alarm. Within 20 minutes there was “ample aid forthcoming” from the police. It was not quick enough for some residents in basement flats, which were already submerged.

Other parts of London were also flooded by the high tides, including points along the Isle Of Dogs, where people had to “struggle along, waist high in water”. The areas around Hammersmith Bridge were said to be under five feet of water. Some of the landmarks flooded were: the houses of parliament, Blackwall tunnel, Woolwich Arsenal and the moat of the Tower of London. The tragedy of the 1928 floods led an act of Parliament being passed in 1930, to strengthen and raise defences along the Thames.


Damage along the Grosvenor Road in 1928A map showing the scale of the 1928 flood
Damage along the Grosvenor Road in 1928 (above, left) and the 1928 flood outline map (above, right).

1953

In 1953, a high spring tide, combined with a storm surge, to create one of the worst flooding disasters in the UK. Over 300 people in the UK alone died in the disaster, and was the catalyst for the creation of the current flood defences in London. Over 24,000 homes and properties were destroyed and more than 34,000 people evacuated. There was no serious overflow in the centre of London but the water was lapping at the top of the walls that defended the houses of parliament. The 1953 floods identified major issues relating to the poor flood warnings and the fact that flood defences were just not adequate to deal with an event like 1953.


A breach in the flood defences at Erith in 1953 

To see a bar chart of increasing high tide levels and defence of London Bridge follow the link below:

Part 2 - History of the Thames Barrier