Tremendous seas and trail of damage

Hurricane Force winds – a gust of 104 miles an hour was recorded at Hartland Coastguard Station – left a trail of damage around the North Devon coast early yesterday (Thursday). And the effect of the wind on the tide, coupled with heavy rainfall, led to further flooding in the Chanters Road district of Bideford. At Westward Ho! the story was said to be among the worst in living memory. Mountainous seas dashed over the promenade and houses in the Westbourne Terrace area, carrying massive pebbles even into Golf Links Road.
The pebble ridge was considerably weakened near the Bailey Bridge and slipway, allowing the sea to pour through and flood the Burrows. Stock were forced back to higher ground and a cow had to be rescued.
Four beach huts were washed from their foundations and three disintegrated. The fourth was found floating in the field together with the debris from the others as well as pots and pans.
At ‘The Gay Sombrero’ owned by Mr F Meadows, who is in Spain on holiday, part of a stone wall was demolished, allowing the sea that washed over the wall of the promenade to invade and flood the building to a depth of about six inches. Holiday flats at 8 Westbourne Terrace were flooded when a first floor window on the seaward side was smashed and waves poured through. Damage to carpets and furniture was considerable.
Nearer the slipway it was not possible to investigate some of the damage, notably at the house of aged Mrs Richards, who is in hospital. An electrical fault meant that the water was electrified.
Mr L Branch of 6 Westbourne Terrace told the Gazette ‘all hell was let loose’. She was awakened when the roof of a garage at No. 4 was carried away by the gale. Although windows were shut, she said, the sea sill penetrated into a bedroom at her home. Battling her way to an outhouse to get coal she was caught by a gigantic wave that washed over the houses and was thrown against the wall. ‘I was drenched and my face was white with salt’ she said.
Police and Northam Urban Council were inundated with calls due to roads having been blocked by fallen trees. There were two down at Stanmore and Limers Lane and Durrant Lane was also blocked. An electricity pole was also brought down by the gale and on the main road, opposite Donnington Guest House, a tree fell across Major Proctor’s newly-erected garage, shattering the roof. Roadway opposite ‘The Chalet’ was covered with broken glass from a greenhouse opposite.
Coastguards had to battle their way to the bad weather station at the end of the Burrows. So strong was the wind that at times it was difficult even to stand. ‘If this keeps us I do not know I shall get back to Westward Ho!’ said one.
No personal injuries were reported, but one casualty was a cormorant rescued by PC Rennies.
At Bideford the anti-flood pumps were in operation for a second day and an auxiliary pump was also used. At high tide the Kenwith stream flooded Elmdale Road and across the Kingsley Road for a while. Flooding in the Kenwith meadows was much more than on the previous day.
At Weare Giffard the River Torridge, already flooding meadows, spilled across the road for a while.
Rainfall at Jennetts for the 24 hours ending 9am yesterday was 0.86 inches.
Gazette article dated 12 January 1962