Flood 2001 October 22

On Sunday, 2001 October 21, roughly 90mm (3.5 inches) of rain fell on Cambridge and the surrounding areas. This was roughly one fifth of the average annual rainfall falling in half a day. The result was a spectacular flash flood on the River Cam and its associated watercourses, resulting in significant damage to properties in the city and surrounding villages. In Cambridge city itself, there were two surges in water level, the first peaking just before dawn on Monday October 22, and the second thought to have peaked between 01:00 and 03:00 on Tuesday October 23. Both these surges exceeded any flood level experienced since 1947. The result was that many buildings erected or altered in the last half-century experienced their first trial in flood conditions. The account below is presented in reverse chronological order.

15:30 update:

Pumping out.

Pumping out, with the rescue team nicely silhouetted in the sun.

Fireman in waders inspects non-working sump pump, under the water. This location is somewhere under the cafeteria.

One of the few working sump pumps left under the college. This one is under the MCR.

Midday update: the water has now dropped by about 11 inches from its peak level.

Scudamore's double-width punts are swept away.

The archived records are under water.

The plant rooms under Cripps Court and the Fitzpatrick Hall are under water, and the depth of water is now increasing faster as the normal electric sump pumps have gone underwater and failed. We are in desperate need of large pumps.

These photos were taken in low light early this morning, while the water was at its highest level, and digitally brightened. By 9:30 am this morning, the level had dropped to about 6 inches below its highest.

The river is much higher than the May 1978 flood, but not quite as high as the February 1947 flood.

The Dean crosses the bridge to take morning prayers in chapel.

Wooden bridge from the Grove.

Silver Street road bridge from the north.

The river looking towards King's College from the south.

Silver Street road bridge and college railings.

Queens' Green with Queen's Road in the background.

Queens' Green and Queen's Road. The Queens' Ditch normally runs to the left of the traffic light.

The Gardeners' Buildings in the Grove. At the bottom right is the flood barrier successfully holding the underground car park mostly clear of water.

Queens' Green looking towards the Silver Street junction.

The Mill Pool at Silver Street.

The wooden bridge and President's Lodge.

The Wooden Bridge.

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