October

Archive sources show that October was a month which included just about every type of weather, even snow as in 1917. The month is associated with Indian summers and there are certainly examples of these in the past. In 1921, for example, temperatures were consistently in the 70s Fahrenheit, even reaching 80° on one day, between 1st and 11th October. The years 1873, 1906, 1909 and 1954 are also examples of Indian summer periods.
 
The month could also be a wet one. The earliest source of information about weather for the county, the Croxden Chronicle, records great floods of rainwater during the autumn of 1330, including October. The year 1875 saw heavy flooding in the county in late October and in 1891, 5.19 inches of rainfall were recorded during the month. In 1913 nearly two inches of rain fell during 26 hours of incessant rain.
 
For gardeners October has always been the month to see the first frosts. 1955 was a particularly cold October with 7° of frost recorded as early as 16th October. It is also a month of strong winds and there are examples from the past of gales causing structural damage, as in the case of Stafford’s Borough Hall in 1877. Violent gales from the north east also caused much damage to trees in October 1910.
 
Formal weather records note the departure of swallows in October as well as their arrival in April. In 1901, 1905 and 1910 the last swallows were seen very late in the month on 30th, 31st and 29th of the month respectively.
 
The extracts are arranged chronologically by the day to show the progression of weather through the month.

Fine Weather and Blackberries at Freehay, 3 October 1873

Rain Closes School at Huntington, 4th October 1900

Disappointing Eclipse at Lane End, 10 October 1847

Rain Reduces School Attendance at Alstonefield, 10-24 October 1902

A Rainy Week for Farming at Penkridge, 12-18 October 1872

A Windy Trip to Stoke, 14 October 1916

Changing Winds, Illness, and A Family Death at Sandon, 16-22 October 1843

Flood at Onneley, 16 October 1891

Miserable Rains at Spotacre, 18 October 1923

From a Local Farmer’s Diary

More Floods at Burton, October 23 1875

Cool October in Rudyard, 23 October 1916

Gale Cancels Concert at Stafford Borough Hall, 24 October 1877

Inclement Weather Affects Harvest at Trentham, October 1816

Changes of Air Lead to Fever in Staffordshire, October 1737

Fine Weather and Blackberries at Freehay, 3 October 1873

From the Log Book of Freehay National School
 
It was thought that the blackberries could not have come to maturity for want of sunny days, but owing to the sudden change of most lovely weather, there has been an abundance of them, The children go to gather them & the consequence has been a considerable reduction in the school. The VI Standard especially are progressing very favourably.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D 3656/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Rain Closes School at Huntington, 4th October 1900

From the Log Book of Huntington Church of England School
 
A very heavy rain today. The children who went home to dinner did not return for the afternoon. The school was therefore closed.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office CEL23/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Disappointing Eclipse at Lane End, 10 October 1847

From the Diary of Jacob Marsh, Farmer, of Lane End

The week of October 4 leading up to the eclipse on Saturday 10th October had been unsettled with rain on most days. By the day of the eclipse, there was a thick mist, disappointing the diarist.
 
Monday 4 October – Fine day Dined at Messrs Haywood. Bought a Pig
Tuesday 5 October – Fine in the morning. Rain after dinner. Sale at the rotten Row. Settled and the money paid with expences
Wednesday 6 October- rainy day Storny [stormy] and cold
Thursday 7 October - Rain continues worse- uncommon bad. Whiley the Tailor from London called and paid Order’d more not wanted
Friday 8 October - very wet most of the day
Saturday 9 October - Thick mist no seeing the Eclips, fine after clear’d off. Total Eclipse of the Sun 7 o’clock in the morning. Mr Holbrooke Arrived
Sunday 10 October - Wet morning. No Church
 
Reference: Stoke on Trent City Archives SD 1465
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Rain Reduces School Attendance at Alstonefield, 10-24 October 1902

From the Log Book of Alstonefield National School
 
Oct 10th- attendance this week not quite so good. The wet weather has affected it Average for the week  74.6
Oct 13th Half holiday this afternoon. School required for a Concert
Oct 17th - very Wet day- Attendance Poor. Th attendance during the early part of the week was very good. The Av[erage] for the week 75.6. The Rev AB Purchas gave a scripture lesson on Wednesday Morning.  School work has been of an ordinary routine character
Oct-24th -  The Attendance has fallen off this week. Five children absent the whole of the week through sickness. The wet weather has also affected the attendance. Both the Vicar & the Rev A.B Purchas visited the School. Average Attendance 70.7
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3805/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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A Rainy Week for Farming at Penkridge, 12-18 October 1872

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 particular record is considerable. The names of all the labourers and farm servants working on this farm are listed, together with information about their daily task. We can see the variety of agricultural work, all of which would have been carried out with no mechanisation. So, for example, three lads and a girl had to be employed to drive draught animals. The final columns record the wages paid, giving us a clear insight into the economic status of farm labourers.
 

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A Windy Trip to Stoke, 14 October 1916

From the Diary of Mrs Elizabeth Hagar Whitehouse of Bridgetown

Cars of this era offered little protection from the elements as this extract shows.
 
Motored to Stoke in the afternoon, had a very nice run there but rather windy. Don went with us. I did not think Aunt was looking well though she seemed very bright. It rained in torrents coming home & nearly blew us out of the Car.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6788/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Changing Winds, Illness, and a Family Death at Sandon, 16-22 October 1843

From the Diary of Jeremiah Ginders of Sandon

Ginders was the agent to Earl Talbot but lived at Sandon Mill. This extract records the details of the weather, including the wind direction, the visits of Dr Tylecote, the local doctor from Great Haywood,  and the death of his eldest son Jeremiah. It also shows Ginders’ bent for graphic design.
 
Monday 16 October. E[ast] showers. Ill. Dr Tilecote fitchen [fetched] in my safety carriage, he was very unwell but came & his wife with him- pronounced me a shade better.
Tuesday 17 October. S[outh] wet night and Stormy day and wet morning. W[est] misling rain. Sent for 2 Loads of Hay from Lofthouse at Enson fearing from a report that all was not right.
Wednesday 18 October W[est] Ill.
Thursday 19 October frosty morning. Tylecote and his Lady came
Friday 20 October- E[ast] frosty morning wet evening. G Smith London Tailor here. Mrs Myatt & … from Biddulph called on their way to Hopton.
Saturday 21 October N[orth] W[est] damp morning. My Poor Dear Son Jeremiah died at Hilderstone Windmill Inn on Friday the 20th inst. at 2 o’ clock in the afternoon.
Sunday 22 October S[outh] wet. Ellen his widow went on Sunday evening to see him before he was moved from the place.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6850/2
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Flood at Onneley, 16 October 1891

From the Log Book of Onneley Church Of England School
 
16 October - On Thursday Alfred Mulliner, John Mulliner, Elizabeth Mulliner, Ernest Bailey and Alfred Barrett were unable to attend school owing to the flood caused by the heavy fall of rain during the night.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3662/1
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Miserable Rains at Spotacre, 18 October 1923

From the Daily Journals of the Spotacre Nursery, near Stone
 
Fine morning but unfortunately the wind turned south east & brought on rains, not heavy but miserable Mr Thompstone from Hanley Park & his son came to look out some Limes for Bucknall Hospital I had a chat with Mr Thompstone
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6168/2
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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From a Local Farmer’s Diary

Although a farmer, the diarist also supplemented his income as a coal merchant.
 
Thursday 21 October. A Fine Morning a Stormy Afternoon with Thunder Hail & Rain. Will went to Hartington Station a Load of coal Brought 16 cwt [hundredweight]. Miss Bainbridge came & paid me for her coal. Mr A Prince paid for his coal, post called.
Friday 22 October. A Very wet morning rather Better in Afternoon. Will went to Hartington Station for Last Load coal. Brought 13 cwt & one Rill Ale From Mr Grettons. Mr Isaac Brunt came here & Bought one calving cow & Two Stirks £33-5-0.
Saturday 23 October. A damp dull day. Will cleaning Shippon [cowhouse] out, Went to Kirkhams to pay them for Foal £8-0-0, post called with papers. Fred Kirkham Brought Foal, his Brother James came. Will cleaning Stone away from Back side.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D6794
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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More Floods at Burton, October 23 1875

From The Staffordshire Advertiser
 
In October 1875, several parts of the county were hit by major floods, notably Stafford, Penkridge, Burton-upon-Trent, Uttoxeter, the Dove Valley and Walsall. The report in the county newspaper gives a very full account of what occurred and is particularly useful for its references to major floods in 1852 and in July 1875. The following extract is only part of the account of the flooding in Burton. Coincidentally at the time when this occurred, the Town Commissioners were already considering flood prevention measures based on the previous experiences of flooding in the town.
 
 
This county has been inundated to an extent never experienced in the last fifty years at least. In November 1852 the largest flood on record  for many years occurred but that has been exceeded by the floods of this week.
 
Burton- On-Trent
After two days of incessant rain, Burton is seriously flooded, the greater proportion of the town being under water on Thursday night. On Wednesday Branstone and the outskirts of the town were partially submerged and in the evening the water began to flow into the town by way of the Branstone Road and the Fleet Stones, and owing to the backing up from the river in the lower part of the town, the sewers early on Thursday morning began to pour forth water into Guild Street and its surroundings. During Wednesday night the roar of the stream through the Leicester and Burton viaduct could be heard a mile off…. People with their families had to betake to themselves to their bedchambers, and in not a few cases, families, poultry, pigs, furniture, rabbits etc were occupying much the same accommodation in upstairs rooms….. From early morning the provision shops were besieged with persons anxious to procure requisites for a several days siege and the brewers’ carts were all day busy removing goods, livestock , distributing provisions, conveying men to and from their work and in meeting the needs of all in embarrassed circumstances. The flood took much the same course as in July last, but was much higher both in the town and in the river and in several parts reached further than in July 1852.
 
Reference: William Salt Library, Staffordshire Advertiser, 23 October 1875
By courtesy of the Staffordshire Newsletter

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Cool October in Rudyard, 23 October 1916

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.
 
North Staffordshire Railway Company
Weekly Report of the State of the Reservoir
 
23 October 1916
Under level 6am- 3 feet
Under level 6pm – 3 feet 1 inch
Paddles open day – ¼
No of paddles open- 1
Commenced water running- 5pm
 Paddles open night ¼
No of paddles open -1
Stopped water running- 10am
Rain gauge – 7 inches
Thermometer highest - 41
Thermometer lowest - 40
Weather – Showery
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 6783/1/6
© Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service

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Gale Cancels Concert at Stafford Borough Hall, 24 October 1877

Letter to Stafford Borough Council Seeking Compensation, 30 October, 1877   
 
 
Earl Street,
Stafford
October 30th 1877
 
Sir,
 
By my concert which was to have taken place in the Borough Hall on Wednesday the 24th of this month, and which, on account of the damage done to the Hall by the gales, had to be given at the Shire Hall, I have suffered a loss of at least £20. And as this loss has been brought about principally by the additional, advertising expenses and shifting from a superior place for which the concert was originally designed to an inferior one, I think that the Town Council owes me some compensation. I would willingly bear one half of the loss, if the Town Council would bear the remainder.
 
I most respectfully beg you to bring this matter before the Council at its next meeting.
 
I remain, Sir,
Sincerely Yours
 
Fr. Lichtenberger
 
To
Mr F Blackston Esq.
Town Clerk
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D3123/T/1/28
By courtesy of Stafford Borough Council
© Staffordshire Record Office

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Inclement Weather Affects Harvest at Trentham, October 1816

From the Report of the Trentham Home Farm Bailiff
 
Harvest finished except for the Beans of which there are still about 12 acres to be cut. Grain of all descriptions much injured by the inclemency of the Weather. Turnips- Swedes but an indifferent crop, Norfolks, a fair crop
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office D593/L/6/2/2
© Staffordshire Record Office

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Changes of Air Lead to Fever in Staffordshire, October 1737

From the Diary of Dr Richard Wilkes of Willenhall

The fever described by Dr Wilkes in this extract was not just confined to Staffordshire and was not life- threatening.
 
At the Beginning of this & the latter End of the last Month we had frequent Changes of the Air even in the same Day from hot to cold so that Coughs, Sore Throats & an Inflammatory Fever which run thro’ whole Families were all over the Countrey.
 
Reference: Staffordshire Record Office 5350
© Staffordshire Record Office 

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