Weather 1683 - 1990

THE WEATHER (The governing factor of life in rural England) research by Joan West

Until the second world war the Upper Hamlets of Princes Risborough (Loosley Row, Lacey Green and Speen) were almost entirey rural, self sufficient communities. They were never rich. Lives were reliant upon the weather. There were just a few wealthy incomers.

Note. The houses and cottages here until the modern day had no foundations, no damp courses and no cavity walls so they were very damp and cold. They were primarily lit with candles which could sometimes blow out in the daughty rooms, had very thin glass in their small windows. Usually they had a fire which would be kept alight all the time by being banked up at night. There may have been some charcoal made in the woods but generally the cottagers relied on collecting enough fallen wood from the common parish woodlands after high winds. Piped water did not come to the villages until 1934.

The winter of 1683/4 was most bitter. The ground froze four feet deep. The frost killed men and cattle, split trees, ruined vegetables, killed birds and froze ponds. The Thames was frozen down to London Bridge and a fair was held on the ice for many weeks. Fuel, food and water was so expensive that collections were made for the poor in the cities.

The winter of 1689/90 was also very bitter. It started early. Spring was late and cold. It was a bad summer with widespread crop failures. Much poor land was abandoned and there was widespread famine. (note. Lacey Green and Speen land would be classed as poor)

Note. The last year had been preceded by huge volcanos in both Iceland and Indonesia.

1703 A storm across the south of England did enormous damage. Many trees were brought down and the cost of food soared.

Note. Being largely self sufficient the cottagers did not fare too badly, although crops were damaged, many being woodmen and sawyers could use the fallen trees to repair damaged barns and cottages. Greater trees had to be used in ship building by law. (a law first made by Henry VIII).

Then for some years the weather had been reasoable. Farming had prospered and the population increased until -

1740. This was a bitter winter. Spring was cold and dry with no rain until mid-August. The autumn was cold. The poor were starving.

In 1741, 42 and 43 the drought continued and the death rate soared.

Note. With the ponds dried up the nearest running water locally was at Saunderton, but eventually the streams dried up too

Below - Quote from the Church Register at Bradenham :-

1764. An earthquake happened at Oxford about fifteen minutes after 4 o'clock on tuesday 6th November which providentially did not occasion much damage. It was perceived at Hampden in the county of Buckinghamshire and in some parts of Gloucestershire. The neighbouring towns and villages near Oxford and in various parts of Berkshire and Wiltshire shook and trembled and ye foundations of Heaven moved and shook because he was wroth.

!812 - 1818.