April

Archive sources indicate that April could be a cruel and sometimes an extreme month for weather. The weather was often variable, veering between very warm spring days and late snows. In 1927, for example, maximum temperatures ranged from 40° to 70° Fahrenheit and minimum temperatures between 23° and 46° Fahrenheit, with snow and frost at the end of the month. In 1874, heavy snow in the Staffordshire Moorlands on 17 April reduced school attendances. In 1885, the temperature moved up by 21° Fahrenheit in just five days and from snow to scorching sun.
 
Formal weather records from the past usually note the date of the arrival of swallows. It was usually around the middle of the month in Staffordshire, although the date could be earlier, for example 9th April in 1909 at Weston- under- Lizard.
 
As in the farming year this was one of the lambing months, such late cold weather could have an adverse effect on new lambs as shown in the extract for 10-16 April 1843. Early drought and cold weather in April could also delay the growth of grass and early crops as in 1681 and 1738. 
 
The extracts are arranged chronologically by the day to show the progression of weather through the month.

Snow and Flood at Trentham, 1-8 April 1858

Late Spring at Freehay, 3 and 24 April 1865

A Hot and Cold April in Longnor, 1-30 April 1909

Snow and Lambs at Weston Coyney, 10-16 April 1843

A Burst of Spring at Teddesley, 15 April 1840

Snow, Swallows and the Cuckoo Arrive at Weston-under Lizard, 16-23 April 1885

Spring Snow in Alstonefield, 17 April 1874

Fine Weather for Planting Mangel Wurzles at Hanchurch, 18 & 21 April 1827

Mixed Weather for Spring Farming at Penkridge, 17-23 April 1869

Child Saved in Electrical Storm at Sedgley, 23 April 1797

Alstonefield Children Away From School, 24 April 1874

A Snowy Day at Teddesley, 27 April 1861

A Warm Cycle Ride from Bridgetown, 26 April 1916

Long Drought Begins in April, 1681

The Greatest Hail Storm in Man’s Memory, April 1738

Poor Growing Weather at Trentham, April 1833

Snow and Flood at Trentham, 1-8 April 1858

From the Weather Journal for Trentham

Journal of the Weather for April 1858

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Late Spring at Freehay, 3 and 24 April 1865

From the Log Book for Freehay National School
 
3 April- There is a wonderful change in the weather, but owing to the very lengthy winter, a good many of the upper boys have to stay at home & help their fathers on their several Farms- weeding & getting ready for sowing, especially for oats & potatoes at this time.
24 April- Attendance very fair, though we cannot expect to have the Children for a week or so because the weather is so beautifully fine & now is the time for weeding & planting potatoes, & on account of the very severe winter most of the small farmer[s] are behind in their ordinary work- those children who came to School did well in all subjects
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3656/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Hot and Cold April in Longnor, 1-30 April 1909

From a Local Farmer’s Diary
 
1 April- A Fine day But cold. Will Cleaning Loft Floor up and Making Rat Holes up.
9 April, Good Friday- Lovely fine day Very Hot and sunny. I sowed all Garden Seeds & Leet Cabage. Mr GH Mellor called here I went with him to the Lawns Fram to Mr  Westons, he came back with me had Tea.
24 April, Saturday, A Stormy day with Ocasional Peals of thunder at a distance. Will and myself walling Gaps in Middle Ground. … it was a Derby day at Butterton with Hulme End & Warslow
30 April- A Very cold day With Storms of Snow at hail. I put wash Gutter in and Gathered some bedding in Farbanks.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6794
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Snow and Lambs at Weston Coyney, 10-16 April 1843

From the Diary of Jacob Marsh, Farmer, of Weston Coyney

The number 22 in the entry for Wednesday 12 April is the identifying number of the sheep giving birth to the lambs on that day.
 
Monday 10 April- This week begins with a Snowy morning, frost in the night, very cold with storms of Snow at intervals thro’ the day.
Tuesday 11 April- Snow & hail on the ground this morning, cold in bed in the night, very cold all day. Caverswall Fair continued until 10 o’ Clock at Night
Wednesday 12 April- Frosty night cold this morning, very cold again today colder I think than ever. 2 more Lambs of 22 9 o’clock at night.
Thursday 13 April- Deep snow, winter again. Lambs under the Hedges & Tree roots
Friday 14 April- Wet cold morning. Thorough days rain young Lambs starved . Cow calved 12 o’clock Night, wench calf.
Saturday 15 April- Mild morning. Mrs walked to L[ane] end returned in Break
Sunday 16 April - dull morning rather wet.
 
Reference: Stoke on Trent City Archives SD
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Burst of Spring at Teddesley, 15 April 1840

From the Diaries of Lord Hatherton, Teddesley Park, near Penkridge
 
Magnificent day. Spring bursting forward with wonderful rapidity. This part of the country much milder than London, having had much rain- rode about all day.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D260/M/F/5/26/14
By courtesy of Mr ARW Littleton
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Snow, Swallows and the Cuckoo Arrive at Weston-under Lizard, 16-23 April 1885

From the Weather Books of the Weston Park Estate, 1885
 

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Spring Snow in Alstonefield, 17 April 1874

From the Log Book for Alstonefield National School
 
There was a rather heavy snow storm on Monday morning. The snow was not quite gone until 3pm. It reduced attendance considerably
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3805/1/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Fine Weather for Planting Mangel Wurzles at Hanchurch, 18 & 21 April 1827

From the Memoranda Book of William Lewis, Local Agent to the Duke of Sutherland

Lewis kept a daily account of his business transacted on behalf of the estate between 1816 and 1837.  From 1821 it is virtually a diary giving information for each day and usually some account of the weather.
 
18 April- A very fine day remained nearly all day on Hanchurch farm Finished planting Potatoes, all hands now busy preparing the Ground for Mangel Worzle
 
21 April- A very fine day drove to Aston and remained there some hours began sowing Mangle Worzle in fine Condition returned to Trentham went up to the farm Hunt busy sowing Mangle Worzle in very fine condition.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D593/L/2/2b
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Mixed Weather for Spring Farming at Penkridge, 17-23 April 1869

From the Account of Servants and Labourers at Deanery Farm, Penkridge

In addition to the daily record of the weather, the amount of information given in this type of record is considerable. The names of all the labourers and farm servants working on this farm are recorded, together with information about their particular daily task. We can see the variety of agricultural work in the spring, all of which would have been carried out without mechanisation. So, for example, lads and a girl had to be employed to drive draught animals. The final columns record the wage paid, giving us a clear insight into the economic status of farm labourers.
 

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Child Saved in Electrical Storm at Sedgley, 23 April 1797

From A History of Staffordshire by William Pitt
 
On Monday April 23rd 1797 during a violent thunder-storm, a fire-ball fell into the chimney of a house occupied by Stephen Cox, a nailer of Sedgley, whilst he and his wife were sitting by the fire-side, and their child was sleeping on a chair near them. Hearing the extraordinary noise in the chimney, the mother snatched the child and thereby saved its life, as the pillow upon which it had lain was scorched, and a  great quantity of bricks fell near it. The electric fluid passed through two houses adjoining, and, attracted by a nail, penetrated into a back kitchen, and forced out a piece of the door, which appears as if cut with a knife: it partially melted in its passage the wards of a lock and the key that was in it; part of the lead in the windows of all three houses was also melted, and a piece of one on the window frames struck off.
 
William Salt Library: A History of Staffordshire. William Pitt
1817

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Alstonefield Children Away From School, 24 April 1874

From the Log Book for Alstonefield National School

Both plants referred to in the extract below were quite troublesome weeds so these children may have been helping to clear the ground for the planting of potatoes.
 
The weather has been remarkably fine this week and in consequence several children were absent gathering “foal’s foots” [coltsfoot] and two boys absent “picking twitch”.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3805/1/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Snowy Day at Teddesley, 27 April 1861

From the Diaries of Lord Hatherton of Teddesley Park, near Penkridge

The poetic description of ‘wearing its white cap’ simply means that the snow lay all day. Teddesley Head is at a slightly higher ground level.   
 
Snow on the ground which fell till 11- but thawed quickly. Teddesley Head wore its white cap all day. Teddesley Head is much colder than Teddesley Park, as the latter is colder than Penkridge.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D260/ M/F/5/26/90
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Warm Cycle Ride from Bridgetown, 26 April 1916

From the Diary of Mrs Elizabeth Hagar Whitehouse
 
I cycled to Wolverhampton with Don, the first ride for me this season, it was a lovely day but rather warm
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6788/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Long Drought Begins in April, 1681

From the Parish Register of Alstonefield
 
A very strong and fiery Meteor in form like a sword appeared in the north west by West in December 1680 & continued about six weeks after which there ensued a tedious & long drought which began Aprill the 10th 1681 & continued till June the 20th of the same year which (as the Wisest thought) procured many pestilentious diseases as agues, strong Feavours, smallpox cum multis aliis [with many others] of which many died in the Countrey, chiefly in great Cities & Towns Corporate.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D922/2
By courtesy of the Vicar and PCC of Alstonefield
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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The Greatest Hail Storm in Man’s Memory, April 1738

From the Diary of Dr Richard Wilkes of Willenhall
 
Till the middle of the Month the Weather was good, the Air mild & the Spring advanced so fast that we had Grass & other Vegetables as forward as they are in the middle of May most years; but on the 19th the Wind changed to the North, the Glass fell & we had in the Afternoon Hail, Rain and Snow. In Derbyshire & more Northward they had a great Snow which lay on the Hills till the 24th. On the 26 at Handley [Hanley] Green was the greatest Hail Storm that had been known in the Memory of Man. Till the end of the Month the Air was colder than in December so that Vegetation was at a Stand. The sun did not appear as I can remember on the 4 last Days of this Month.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 5350
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Poor Growing Weather at Trentham, April 1833

From the Trentham Farm Bailiff’s Report
 
The greater part of this month has been very ungenial for vegetation, consequently there is at present a want of grass in the pasture land, the nights generally have been frosty attended with cold rain on the following days
 
Reference : Staffordshire Record Office D593/L/6/2/15
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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