Stourport-on-Severn

Flooding on the River Severn -'Our house under water'

We have a holiday bungalow just south of Stourport-on-Severn. It is built on the flood plain next to a weir. Over the last few years the river has flooded and the water has reached the top of the steps [the bungalow is built on stilts!]. However this year in October the water came right into the building. The water mark on the cupboard shows how high it reached. Click on the thumbnail to get a bigger picture.

This is a ballad that I wrote at school after our visit to the bungalow the week after the first flood.

Our house under water

Our house under water
All possessions now lost.
I watched from the sidelines
Asking, "What would be the cost?"

Approaching the garden
Through a sea of mud.
Plants beneath the water,
Would they survive the flood?

Slip and slide across the silt,
Gingerly I opened the door.
Sofas and chairs barred the way,
Thick slimy mud covered the floor.

Cushions are sodden, beds are wet,
The cooker and fridge destroyed.
But the building is safe
No men need be employed.

Soap suds and water scoured the pans,
Hosepipe and brooms worked their hardest.
We struggled and toiled
To rid the river’s discharges.

Now it is shiny and spotless,
The river is back in its course.
Our thoughts are now dwelling
On the river in flood and it’s force.

Our house under water
All possessions now lost.
I watched from the sidelines
Again "What would be the cost?"

By Craig, year 8

Chase Terrace High School.

The last time the river flooded this high was in 1947. The winter was particularly severe with a lot of long lasting snow

This did not thaw until just before Easter. The river burst its banks and the water rose very rapidly to half way up the windows. This was probably a rise of about 6m.

This page last updated 13 March 2001