Hemyock

Hemyock was hit by a terrific storm at 7pm on Thursday 27th May.  The storm was centred on South Somerset with Crewkerne and Ilminster being badly hit; the edge was bad enough. Within minutes the Recreation Field, Bowling Green, the road and gardens of South View and surrounding areas were submerged as rain relentlessly beat down amidst thunder and lightning.

In the village centre the Catherine Wheel and Parish Church of St Mary’s found themselves surrounded by a lake as water poured in. In the church porch water stood over a foot high and poured into the building which is currently undergoing redecoration. The debris was so concentrated in the churchyard that water was sent cascading over the wall into Culmstock Road

Houses in East Mead were flooded, manhole covers in Station Road were forced up, a landslide taking land about 2 metres into the road occurred at Westown, the river running along the bottom of Station Road was impassable as water covered the 3 foot high wooden footbridge whilst the bottom of Pencross Hill resembled a shingle beach

For a time phonelines were down and some houses were without electricity

David Bawler, who went to the parish church said “ Although I have seen the river flood a number of times I have never seen it rise so quickly in such a short space of time – about 30 minutes. There are areas of the church carpet which are saturated and very muddy particularly in the Chancel and by the main door” 

 

Photo of St Margaret's Stream

Photo of St Mary's Brook

The above by Janice Bawler

This photo by Mark Balchin

Outside the Catherine Wheel