AND ITS EFFKCTS IN nEinFOKDSHIKE. 21 



EicKMAXswoRTH. — Tlic (liiiiiago (lone in the town, though exten- 

 sive, was contiued to broken chimney-pots, tih^s, etc. ; it ■\vas, 

 however, found impossible to light the street lamps for two nights 

 succeeding the gale, some of the pipes having been damaged by 

 the force of the wind. At Moor Park many trees of immense size 

 were uprooted, chiefly elms, while oaks had huge branches twisted 

 off. In the pleasure-grounds and park proper there wei'e about 

 30 trees blown down, and on the rest of the estate about 50 more, 

 besides many injured. The symmetry of the cedars was quite 

 spoiled, especially of one in close proximity to the mansion. A 

 like tale of destruction comes from Rickmansworth Park, Chorlcy- 

 wood, The Cedars, Croxley House, etc. 



District III. Hatfield. — In the park immense damage was 

 done, especially in the Home Park, the total number of trees blown 

 down amounting to 118. In the principal avenue leading to Queen 

 Elizabeth's oak, many fine elms and limes were uprooted or broken. 

 One grand old beech was snapped off about 4 ft. from the ground, 

 where it measured 6 ft. in diameter, the top Aveighing upwards of 

 20 tons. In the pinetum, two fine specimens of Finns pinaster, 

 and one of Abies excelsa, were uprooted. In the woods outside the 

 park about 30 trees were blown down, one elm measuring 5 ft. in 

 diameter 3 ft. from the ground, lifting with its roots earth 18 ft. 

 in diameter. 



District IV. DrysTABLE. — At Kensworth, the highest ground in 

 the county, the storm raged with great fury. Fine trees were 

 uprooted, many of them sound, others showing signs of decay. 

 The Church had a portion of its roof stripped off. 



Haepexdex. — The spire of the church was blown out of the 

 perpendicular, the vane being twisted nearly double. The stately 

 elms in the village suffered severely. At Rothamsted, an elevated 

 position, the gale proved very destructive, scarcely a tree with any 

 pretension to size escaping mutilation. A large oak was split 

 down the middle, one half being left standing ; another oak was 

 actually broken through the middle of the trunk, although it was 

 perfectly sound. On the west side of the estate, where the soil 

 is of a loose texture, over 100 trees were torn up, and for a 

 considerable distance not more than half a dozen remain uninjured. 



St. Axbaxs. — The force of the gale was so great as to cause a 

 partial stoppage of pedestrian traffic in the town. In a meadow 

 adjoining St. Peter's Church a row of six elms was completely 

 uprooted. A stack of chimneys was blown down, doing consider- 

 able damage to the back of the next two shops in Victoria-street. 

 At Gorhambury great damage was done to the trees ; the mansion 

 also suffered. At Waterside the greatest force of the gale was felt 

 about 2"25 p.m. ; three large elms, an ash, and a very large Scotch 

 fir were uprooted ; the largest of the elms falling across the public 

 road, and blocking it for nearly two days. 



District V. Berkhampstead. — Less damage was perhaps done in 

 the Bulbome valley than in some other parts of the county, owing 

 to the shelter given by the hills rising from S. and W. The well- 



