January

Although snow, hail and frost were regular features of this month well into the 20th century, January’s weather could still be very variable. Formalised weather records indicate generally lower temperatures and, as a result snow lay on the ground for much longer. There are some dramatic accounts of heavy and very deep snow, particularly in 1940 and 1947.  However, sunshine and fine, dry weather is also recorded. In 1738 the month was unusually warm. Fog too was not uncommon in this month. In 1888 for example, there were four consecutive days of dense fog.
 
The extracts are arranged chronologically by the day to show the progression of weather through the month.

A Deep Snow at Trentham, 1-23 January 1820

Fine Weather Ushers in the New Year at Teddesley, 2-4 January 1862

Skating at Longton, 7 January 1840

Storms at Longnor, 7 January 1909

Ferret Lost in Thunderstorm at Leekfrith, 9 January 1852

Snow Hits Church Attendances in Walsall, 14-19 January 1922

Despite Severe Weather Admaston Entertainments Go Ahead, 15 January 1881 and 28 January 1880  

Blizzards at Swythamley, 16-23 January 1936 

A Violent Wind near Croxden Abbey, 20 January 1299

Full Reservoir in Foggy Rudyard, 20 January 1911

Early Snowdrops at Teddesley, 23 January 1859

Flood Damage Hits Wombourne’s Mills, 25 January 1640

Frosty Butter Churning at Longnor, 26 January 1909

Deep Snow at Weston under Lizard, 26-31 January 1940

A Foggy Night for a Whist Drive in Cannock, 27 January 1916

Worst Snow within Living Memory at Draycott-in the Moors, 29-30 January 1940

Warm Weather Brings on Fevers at Rugeley, January 1738

A Deep Snow at Trentham, 1-23 January 1820

From the Weather Journal for Trentham Hall

he journal records that on 31 December 1819, 18 inches of snow already lay on the ground.
 

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Fine Weather Ushers in the New Year at Teddesley, 2-4 January 1862

From the Diaries of Lord Hatherton, Teddesley Park, near Penkridge
 
2 January 1862 - A beautiful winter’s day- sunny, clear and a mild North East wind. I walked about with my Grandson and Bailiffs
 
4 January 1862 - The day magnificent for this month and country [county]. Sun and a clear atmosphere and only a slight frost.  Though suffering from a cold, I could not help mounting my horse and cantering on the hills.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D260/ M/F/5/26/92
By courtesy of Mr ARW Littleton
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Skating at Longton, 7 January 1840

From the Diary of Jacob Marsh, Farmer, of Lane End, Longton
 
7 January, 1840 – Hard frost, went to Blurton, Saw skaiting on Longton pool
 
Reference: Stoke on Trent City Archives SD
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Storms at Longnor, 7 January 1909

Extract from a Local Farmer’s Diary
 
7 January- A fine sharp morning. post called with papers. I was at home all day. Nancy Went Home foe her Holides [holidays] thair was some Very heavy Thunder and acompined by some Very Vivid Flashes of Lightning a heavy Hail storm with Rain
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6794
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Ferret Lost in Thunderstorm at Leekfrith, 9 January 1852

From the Farming and Household Diary of John Plant of Hazlewood House Farm, Leekfrith
 
Often information about the weather is recorded quite incidentally in records as shown in this extract. This diary uses some North Staffordshire dialect words, phonetic spelling and virtually no punctuation.
 
9 January 1852- T Brough at the Smithy with Gilbert, very stormy & cold with snow. George & John Belfield came in the afternoone and broh[t] there ferrit to Ketch some Rablets, thay ketched 3 and turned it into a burrough in the Ditch between the Calf Figgs, thay wated 2 hours and Diged varies ways but cold not Finde it thay were verrry much alarmed with a sudden Ghlosh [ probably dialect word meaning flash] of Lightening and Loud Clap of thunder thay went and Left it and George went in 1 Houre at after and took the Lanther [lantern] with him and with a Little diging he found the Ferrit asleep on the Ralbet which he had Kild.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 5615/1/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Snow Hits Church Attendances in Walsall, 14-19 January 1922

From the Service Register of St Peter’s Church Walsall

Church attendances recorded for services in this snowy week show that congregations were lower than the average.
 

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Despite Severe Weather Admaston Entertainments Go Ahead, 15 January 1881 & 28 January 1880

From the Vicar of Blithfield’s Parish Diary
 
It was not unusual in the late Victorian and Edwardian period for a Christmas treat or tea party for school children to be held in January.
 
A good many children were kept away by illness or by the severe weather from the Entertainment on January 15th [1881] but there were about seventy present for tea. After tea they warmed themselves by a good romp till about 5 o’clock when the curtain at the end of the room suddenly fell down and disclosed the Christmas tree lighted and decked. There followed the prize-giving and afterwards each child in order chose something from the tree. This lasted until the candles were nearly all burnt out and then a happy and merry evening was brought to a close by the singing of the children’s evening hymn.
 
 
An entertainment organised by the schoolmaster for the purpose of raising a fund for school prizes was held in the school on the evening of Jan 28th [1880] at 7 0’clock. Luckily the night, although bitterly cold, was bright and the attendance was quite as good as could be expected.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D1386/2/1/5
By courtesy of the Vicar and PCC of Blithfield
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Blizzards at Swythamley, 16 – 23 January 1936

From the Log Book for Swythamley Church of England School
 
16 January 1936- Continuous snowstorms- only 7 children present. School routine not strictly followed. Afternoon session curtailed to allow the children to reach home before dark. It is still snowing & travelling is very difficult.
 
20 January 1936 - The snow having drifted caused many roads to be blocked. Only 7 children present (43%). Time table suspended.
 
21 January 1936 - Owing to a terrible blizzard there were no children present. School closed.
 
22 Jan- There were no children present. School closed.
 
23 January 1936 - One child arrived at school this morning but I sent him home, his feet were wet. School closed at 9-30am
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3658/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Violent Wind near Croxden Abbey, 20 January 1299

From the Croxden Chronicle

It is not known where Le Hee was situated but for it to be recorded in the chronicle suggests in the county if not near to the Abbey.
 
On the day of the Sts [Saints] Fabian and Sebastian [20 January], a violent wind from the south blew down the wall near Le Hee for a length of sixty feet and uprooted forty great apple trees and a very large pear tree in an adjoining garden and growing stronger, broke [them]into pieces. Such a wind prevailed though not so violently for a month or more.

Reference: William Salt Library The Abbey of St Mary, Croxden, Charles Lynam, including extracts from The Croxden Chronicle

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Full Reservoir in Foggy Rudyard, 20 January 1911

From the Weekly Reports of the State of the Reservoir
 
Rudyard Lake was built in 1797 as a reservoir to support the growing canal network in North Staffordshire. As well as the state of the reservoir itself, this record gives information about the weather.
 
20 January 1911
Under level 6am- full
Under level 6pm – full
Paddles open day – ¾
No of paddles open- 1
Paddles open night- ¾
No of paddles open -1
Thermometer highest 35
Thermometer lowest 30
Weather – foggy
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6783/1/5
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Early Snowdrops at Teddesley, 23 January 1859

From the Diaries of Lord Hatherton of Teddesley Park, near Penkridge
 
23 January 1859- Our weather continues the most extraordinary ever known. Moist and for the most part mild. There has not been a particle of rain on the ground since the frost in the middle of November, even at 4 o’ clock in the morning. My Gardener saw some snowdrops a fortnight ago.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D260/M/F/5/26/79-80
By courtesy of Mr ARW Littleton
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Flood Damage Hits Wombourne’s Mills, 25 January 1640

From the parish church register for Wombourne
 
Memorandum that on the 25th of January 1639 [1640] there hapned a great and suddaine Floud which brake down the Milles and did much hurt in the parish.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3710/1/1
By courtesy of the Vicar and PCC of Wombourne, St Benedict Biscop
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Frosty Butter Churning at Longnor, 26 January 1909

Extract from a Local Farmer’s Diary, 1909
 
26 January 1909- A Grand Sharp Frosty Morning Frose all day in the shade. Post called with papers. Will and myself carting Manure. We churned. Mr John Wooliscroft still on the Boose [booze] Charles Birch came for Butter churning
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6794
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Deep Snow at Weston under Lizard, 26-31 January 1940

From the Weather Books of the Weston Estate

Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D1287
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Foggy Night for a Whist Drive in Cannock, 27 January 1916

Extract from the Diary of Mrs Elizabeth Hagar Whitehouse
 
27 January- Whist Drive and Dance in aid of Red Cross. Mrs Carver and Wollaston got it up. Arthur and his wife came over for it. It was a fearfully foggy night. Gerty came down but went away at 10 o clock. We stayed till 12.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6788/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Worst Snow within Living Memory at Draycott-in the Moors, 29-30 January 1940

Extracts from the log book for Draycott in the Moors Junior School.

This school had only just opened in September 1939 and was immediately required to take in a number of evacuees from Manchester at the outbreak of the Second World War. The severe weather, which came in January and February 1940, must have made the transition even more difficult for these city children.
 
29 January 1940 - Since Friday afternoon there have been unusually heavy falls of snow so that traffic is virtually held up, and it was impossible to get into school until a road had been cut through. The very few children who attempted to come were sent home and instructed to attend tomorrow if possible.
 
30 January 1940 - Conditions are no better, except that a way has been cut into school. The snow in the school grounds is as much as seven feet deep in places, while in the surrounding district, drifts are reported as high as eighteen feet. Communication with many farms is impossible, and it is not surprising that only 4 Staffordshire children are present. The school however is being kept open, if only on account of the Manchester children who have been able to get in.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6838/1/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Warm Weather Brings on Fevers at Rugeley, 1738

From Dr Richard Wilkes’ Diary
 
This month the Weather was as warm as it often is in Aprill. We had several Storms of wind in these 2 last Months which did a great deal of Damage in many Places, but not as much Rain for the Waters were but once out of their Bounds in this Time. Inflammatory fevers began to appear in Several Places especially round about Ridgeley [Rugeley] where several died.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 5350
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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