Aldermaston's Great Flood of 2007

On Friday, 20th July 2007 months-worth of rain fell within a few hours causing severe flooding across wide areas of the UK- and Aldermaston was not spared.As in many areas, the deluge overwhelmed local drainage and ditches and many householders had to be evacuated for months until their houses could be dried out. The Primary School was greatly affected and again it took months for things to return to normal. There was a lot of Press overage which is featured in a separate post, “2007 Flood – press coverage“.

The following photos show some of the consequences.

ABOVE: although the exit it clear, the rest of the culvert running under The Street was almost completely blocked with grey sediment, greatly reducing its capacity....
Peter Oldridge
..................................... ABOVE: A view of The Street in normal times...........
Peter Oldridge
..............................ABOVE: the same view on Flood day.................
Peter Oldridge
......ABOVE: cars driving through the water increased the damage with their wakes.....
Peter Oldridge
...............................ABOVE: another view of The Street long after the Flood............
Peter Oldridge
....................................ABOVE: the same view on 20th July 2007..................
Peter Oldridge
.............................ABOVE: The Hinds Head in happier times...............
Peter Oldridge
...........ABOVE: the same view on Flood Day. Denny Acres seems to be enjoying the experience!..........
Peter Oldridge
.......................ABOVE: Ed Austin looks less happy. The House Sale will sadly have been postponed!...........
Peter Oldridge
...............ABOVE: Aldermaston Stores after the flood- evidently,clearing up is still in progress.......
Peter Oldridge
.........................ABOVE: The torrent courses down Fisherman's. Lane...............
Peter Oldridge
........................ABOVE: The view from The Hinds Head in normal times............
Peter Oldridge
............................ABOVE: Muddy water covers the whole area.................
Peter Oldridge
....................ABOVE: Looking down Wasing lane, with the Primary School to the right...........
Peter Oldridge
..ABOVE: As far as the eye can see, water flowing towards the camera. The wading man shows the depth at this point ...
Peter Oldridge
.............................ABOVE: Children awaiting their turn to be rescued......................
.........ABOVE: the children had to be passed through the classroom windows onto the boats.........
.........................ABOVE: the exit from the Primary School in normal times........
Peter Oldridge
......ABOVE: the children being carried to safety, with the teachers putting on a brave face to reassure them!...
Peter Oldridge
The Firemen walked the boats back and forth to the Primary School
Stephanie Moran
...........................................ABOVE: another group is safely delivered...............................
Stephanie Moran
....................ABOVE: Forsters after the Flood- note the Portacabins and skips..............
Peter Oldridge
..............................ABOVE: the same view at the height of the flooding...............
Peter Oldridge
......................ABOVE: The School grounds were totally inundated........................
..........................ABOVE: Portacabins are delivered to serve as classrooms while the buildings were dried and refurbished..............
Peter Oldridge
After the floods in 2007 the school resumed operations with temporary classrooms, the Portacabins on the left.
Peter Oldridge
....................................ABOVE: pumping out in Fisheramns Lane.....................
Robert Rosier
......ABOVE: one young villager even risked cycling down Wasing Lane but there were many hidden dangers!
Peter Oldridge
........ABOVE: in a living room, a poignant image-a dolls house and children's toys drifting...
Peter Oldridge

Comments about this page

  • Catherine,

    Thank you for getting in touch and I apologise for such a tardy response!

    We are gathering, albeit slowly, lots of photographs and loading them onto the website as a record of Aldermaston’s rich history. We don’t have a schedule for this as it is done by volunteers. I would suggest that you pop back occasionally and use the good search capability on the website which will help you find pictures and stories. You could also join our mailing list where we try to let people know what has been loaded, Mailing List registration found under “Contact Us”.

    If you have any photos yourself that you think would add to the story of Aldermaston we’d love to have them on the website.

    Thanks again for getting in touch.

    Chris
    Vice-Chair

    By Chris Boott (31/03/2022)
  • I’ve just come across your page whilst in a conversation with my children about where I went to school. I was happy to find these lovely pictures.
    I was wondering if you often add more pictures? As it would be lovely to see some of the old school building and of the flood in the 80’s ,I think 1988 it was.

    By Catherine Hunt (07/12/2021)

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