WE'VE had an odd sort of summer. A promising spring, a hot couple of weeks in July, and an August with plummeting temperatures, threats of frost and flash floods. It was however, 50 years ago in July, 1964, that Earby was hit by the worst floods in living memory. Lesley Tate investigates.

FIFTY years ago the Craven Herald was full of reports of "grim flood scenes" and a "trail of havoc and damage".

Freak storms with around two inches of rain falling in just one hour had hit the town early on a Saturday morning, which would leave an impact on the memories of the inhabitants for ever, reported the paper.

Although the storm had passed over much of the district and had included thunder and lightning and hailstones, it was in and around Earby where it had been at its most damaging.

A nine-year-old boy had to be saved from rising flood waters, several factories were flooded, and Water Street was turned into a fast flowing river.

A van was carried along the flooded street, smashing into a shop window and houses were flooded - an elderly woman frozen by terror, had to be saved from her living room.

The Saturday in the height of the holiday season had started with light rain, which had turned into a torrent. Although it was only midday, lights were turned on. Then there was thunder and lightning and the rain started coming down. Hailstones the size of sugar lumps fell a "menacingly" long time, children cried out in fright and adults "peered anxiously" outside.

All streets disappeared under the flood waters and gradually, the force built up as rain from the hills behind Earby poured down into the streams and into the brown torrent.

A tidal wave hit Water Street and a decorator's van was slammed against a shop window, breaking it. The water continued to build, and the main road into Skipton became flooded, with water pouring into houses. Any attempts to stem the flow into houses was useless - doors were burst open and items such as shoes joined the flotsam.

Nine-year-old Patrick Ellis, who lived in Bethesda Street, had been sent to buy two loaves of bread and had sheltered in a shop doorway opposite the Conservative Club as the rain had turned heavier. As the water reached his waist, three firemen, roped together, tried to reach him, but such was the force of the water, they kept being swept away. Eventually, a laden coal wagon was backed up to the lad and a fireman lifted him to safety.

Close by, in Sough, a woman had paid a visit to an outside toilet and had just left it when it was carried away by floods waters.

Several fire engines rushed to the scene, but were unable to cope with the calls for their services.

Sub officer, A Wilkinson, based in Barnoldswick, took the call for help, despite being about to go on holiday, and spent the next three hours helping people with the aftermath of the flood. Two young men had to break down the door of an elderly woman in Selbourne Terrace, one of the worst affected areas. Terrified to move, she was saved from her settee in her living room with the flood waters washing around her feet.

Television sets from a shop next to the bus station joined the newly formed river, along with sweets,packets of butter and other provisions. A man marooned in the Conservative Club watched helplessly as his car was washed down the alley next to the club. At its worst, water five feet deep stretched from Victoria Road to the bridge at Red Lion Street.

It was estimated that more damage had been caused to Earby streets and pavements in just 30 minutes than in the terrible winter of 1963, and there were talks of a special fund being set up.

On the following day, homeowners and business owners started the big clean up. The Sunday school of the Mount Zion Baptist Church was turned into a carpet drying centre and teams of council workmen worked alongside firemen to clear the streets. Industry took a hard knock. All women employed at Victoria Mill were laid off for a week while their male colleagues carried out the task of cleaning up.

The Johnson and Johnson factory was unable to start up as usual because water had got into the wiring. The top end of Cob Lane disappeared completely, and a new garage in Kelbrook was moved along with its concrete base for several feet - although items on its shelves remained in place. In Barnoldswick, rubble washed off the moors and blocked Town Head. It was estimated that the cost to businesses was around £100,000.

Policemen said they had never seen anything like it, but all contributed to the great clean up with almost a cheery smile, reported the Herald. "It was almost as though they were sorry for those 'unfortunate' people on higher ground who had escaped the perils of the memorable day."

Earby was certainly the worst hit, but other places also suffered heavy rain and flooding. Rain fell for about 20 minutes in Skipton, but the town escaped the full fury of the storm and damage was restricted to flooded cellars. In Cononley, the village beck quickly overflowed and flooded the main street at several places. Several houses and the Railway Inn were all extensively damaged. In Silsden, where the storm hit earlier in the day, streets, roofs and gardens were covered with hailstones, which according to one fireman, measured up to one and a quarter inches in diameter.

It was everyone agreed, the worst storm since July, 1932 - although far worse. Comparison was also made to a severe thunderstorm which broke over West Craven in August, 1889. That storm had resulted in damage to walls and the deaths of two fat beasts who were struck by lightning while grazing in a field.

Pictures courtesy of Earby and District History Society.