Some footage captured by Hybrid Histories during their 3D scanning of the river Quaggy. The Quaggy disappears underground as it passes under Lewisham centre, encased in concrete and totally dark.
Despite these conditions, life can still be found. The next clip shows some eels and a flounder.
A loose cable hangs in the tunnel.
Even a burst pipe, spraying water into the Quaggy.
(L20)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
A short video recapping the brewing of Brockley Brewey’s Deluge, a beer brewed to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the 1968 Lewisham floods.
Between July and September hops flower and can be spotted in many parts of London, including all along the rivers of Lewisham. Male and female flowers take different shapes but both are coloured in a yellow-green.
Three large bin bags full of hops were dutifully picked and deposited in a bucket ready for brewing.
They were then added to the brew kettle to prepare them for fermentation. Three weeks later, a delicious green hop beer was ready to drink.
(L19)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
In partnership with Lewisham Underwater, Brockley Brewery brewed a brand new green hop beer to celebrate the project and the 54th anniversary of the 1968 Lewisham Floods.
The accompany the occasion, four beer mats were created, each displaying a different location in the borough as it was during the floods.
(L18)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
(L22)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
A recent leaflet produced by the Quaggy Waterways Action Group detailing the risk posed by flooding today.
Flood Risk Isn’t History – we can all help today.
The great flood of 1968 may be history, but flood risk isn’t. Climate change raises the risk of flooding, but everyone can help reduce this risk – from everyday actions to making your home and business safe.
Did you know?
Five ways you can help cut flood risk.
Put your rubbish in the bin: Not only does littering look unsightly, it also raises the risk of flooding and harms local wildlife. This is because litter often ends up in our drains or local rivers, or even in the sea – causing obstructions that can increase the chance of flooding.
Make your garden greener: Front gardens can be a secret weapon in helping to cut flood risk, as plants take the strain of drains when it’s raining. Even letting your lawn grow longer can help prevent floods. If you don’t have a garden, you can help reduce the risk by getting some patio pots and planters. This will reduce the amount of water running of hard surfaces and help ease pressure on drains.
Replace paved surfaces and AstroTurf with plants: If you have a paved or AstroTurfed garden, you can significantly reduce the risk of flooding by simply removing it and planting something in its place. This action will help rain soak away, rather than washing onto pavements, roads and streets and piling pressure onto drains. It’ll also reduce the risk of litter being washed into local rivers.
Be resilient:
Check the risk of flooding where you live
See how restoring local rivers cuts the risk of floods.
Write to your representative to demand action on climate change: The evidence is clear – taking action to prevent flooding caused by climate change is significantly less expensive than paying for repairs during or after a disaster.
You can write your own letter on this website.
(L17)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
Here is a entry from a 1968 girl guides’ log book about their experience of the floods, courtesy of Bee Twidale.
It started raining as soon as we arrived.
We measured 2½ inches on Saturday.
Biggin Hill Battle of Britain display was held despite the thunderstorm. The Red Arrows, a helicopter team and Blackheath Guides braved the elements!
Major calamity! Mrs Watson’s car stalls in a miniature lake, ¼ of a mile away, and refuses to start. Everyone’s luggage is piled into the estate. Mrs Watson and the guides paddle to the nearest bus route. Linda and Bee negotiate a second Niagara, driving up Cudham Hill. Heavy flooding through Bromley and Catford but we finally made it home!
(L16)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
These photographs show the same locations as they are today and as they were on the day of the floods in 1968.
The first shows what was the old Coca Cola bottling plant on the A20 with two generations of London buses passing by.
(L15)
The second shows the tree line in Ladywell fields. In 1968 the grass was completely submerged in water.
The third shows Elmira Street underneath Ladywell railway bridge.
The fourth shows Wearside Road, also in Ladywell.
(L15)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
My house on Malyans Road, SE13, was flooded but we only moved in in 2011.
We realised when we pulled up the carpet to find that the floorboards towards the front of the house were new.
The person who lived there before us was in the house for 60 years (and the flat next door before this).
– Adele
(L12)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
I was seven years old when the flood happened.
My family lived in Hamlea Close on the Dover Road just heading out from Lee Green.
The road became a river and we could not let our sausage dog, ‘Tebby’, to go out for a walk. She would have needed a raft!
(L14)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
Hello, I was about seven years old, and the rain kept raining and got higher and higher, to the point where it actually got up to my shoulders. On the bottom floor.
I lived on the corner of Hither Green Lane and Spring Bank Road, and it took days for the water to come down and my grandad had to come and take me out the window and take me back to their house.
That’s my memory of the floods of Lewisham.
(L11)
If for any reason you wish to withdraw your name or memory, contact us at engage@gold.ac.uk
