The Great Flood of 10th July 1968

The storm that passed across southern England on 10th July was at its most severe over the upper Chew valley where rainfall totals exceeded 6 inches. The valley is steep-sided and when vegetation and soil could absorb no more the water poured into the ditches and tributaries of the river causing the water level to rise very rapidly.  Large flows move more quickly and the destructive power of the water washed away bridges and some buildings in its path.  As it neared Keynsham the flood water hit the wall across the valley at Chewton Keynsham.  When that collapsed the resulting “wall” of water moved downstream.  Above Albert Mill the valley narrows so the flood deepened and then hit the Dapps Hill Bridge area of Keynsham like a tidal wave, flooding houses to the top of the ground floor.  At Bath Hill Bridge a stranded car was washed off the bridge and three of the occupants died.  Nearby shops and houses were badly damaged.

The next morning saw a huge recovery operation begin, but it took several years to replace the bridges and buildings destroyed, whilst many of those affected saw their lives changed forever.