MR. A. W. PRESTON ON THE GREAT GALE OF MARCH 34. 1895. 101 
The centre of the storm seems to have passed over Gloucestershire 
and across the Midland Counties through Norfolk. At Upheld, 
near Stroud, Gloucestershire, the gale was at its height from noon to 
1 p.m. At Easton Maudit Vicarage, Northampton, the Rev. II. A. 
P>oys reports that it was at its height from 1.30 to 2.15 p.m., and 
that the extreme force there might certainly be put as high as 11 
and perhaps even at 12. The damage done in the Midland Counties 
was quite as serious as in Norfolk. I have recently visited Rugby, 
and find that a sad havoc is made amongst the magnificent Elms 
with which the fields attached to the schools abound. At Leamington, 
Kenilworth, Coventry and neighbourhood, tln*re is much destruction, 
and the beautiful park of Stoneleigh Abbey (the seat of Lord Leigh) 
is sadly disfigured. On the other hand in Suffolk the damage is 
very much loss than in Norfolk. A recent visit showed me that 
although trees are blown down here and there the results are trifling 
when compared with the devastation wrought in this county. 
The effects of the storm prove conclusively that there has been 
nothing like it in this locality during the present generation. Many 
trees were uprooted and much damage done by a violent gale on 
the 14th October, 1881, and many persons recollect the even more 
disastrous hurricane of the 28th May, 1860; but it is almost 
unanimously agreed that the results in these cases were nothing to 
be compared with the recent experience. It has been said that no 
such violent storm has occurred since 1703. In that year, old 
records state that it was “ the most terrible wind ever known ” 
(November 26th and 27th), “and a great wind which blowed down 
houses, barns, trees, being Satterday morning, and much harm to 
the ships at sea” (Winchcourt Parish Register). Mr. Glaisher, 
however, states that on the last day of the year 1778, “there was 
a violent storm, supposed by some to have been as violent as that 
of 1703.” In 1839 there was also an exceedingly furious gale on 
January 7th, when “it was dreadful throughout England, Wales, 
Ireland, and part at least of Scotland, and abroad : nearly 200 lives 
were lost by sea and land in the North of England, and at Liverpool 
and Manchester almost every house was injured, and many people 
killed by falling chimneys or roofs.” Altogether what with the 
violent gales and floods of December, the almost unprecedented 
frost of January and February, and the hurricane of March 24th, 
the winter of 1894 — 95 is not likely to be soon forgotten. 
