GREAT FLOOD 1771 THE floods in Cumbria and the death of PC Bill Barker make sad news. There are 1,800 bridges in Cumbria that all need inspecting in the coming months.

Bear in mind, then, what it must have been like in 1771 in the Tyne, Wear and Tees areas when, on November 17, after torrential rainfall all the bridges in the Tyne Valley were destroyed except for the bridge at Corbridge. The Tyne Bridge was one of those swept away.

Prebends Bridge at Durham was washed away as were three of the arches of Elvet Bridge, which in those days had 14 arches. The high watermark for the Wear during the flood exceeded the highest known point by 8ft.

The Tees was the most badly affected river at that time with whole mills collapsing with the power of the water and six houses slipping into the river at Startforth. The Tees at Low Coniscliffe was half a mile wide.

At the time of this flood it was said that it was the worst flooding for 1,000 years. Today, the Tees and the Tyne are “protected” slightly from such severe flooding by the Cow Green reservoir and Kielder Water which would act as a dam if such conditions were to occur again.

Malcolm Rolling, Carrville, Durham City.