Notes: | Information from Malcolm Nunn, Bradfield Parish Council Archivist. This is an image used in slide lectures/ magic lantern shows by photographer Mr. Peacock. His notes to accompany the lectures also included some of his experiences while taking the photograph. Roebuck House is situated at the foot of a deep declivity a mile below Bradfield, consisted of 2 stone houses and the farm outbuilding-the water was rising in the bedrooms when one of the occupants William Marsden broke a leg off the dressing table and with it broke a hole through the ceiling. He then climbed onto the roof, his wife standing andon a table handed their child up to him. The hill behind the house rose up so abruptly that it was nearly on a level with the roof and it was quite easy to jump off the roof into the wheat field at the rear- so placing his child in safety, he then returned to assist his wife. His neighbour Mr. Tittcomb broke a pole off the 4 poster bed and with it smashed a hole through the ceiling and roof, 8 of the occupants escaped in a similar manner. Directly as the last person left the roof, the waves washed entirely over the houses and when the waters subsided, the tenants found that the outbuildings were clean cut in two- one half completely washed away, the other half had with stood the shock and had evidently saved the houses. The bridge and cattle had disappeared but a fat pig managed to save its life by swimming to the side and climbing onto the hillside. For more information see: The Great Sheffield 1864 Harrison Ref: 942.74 S The Collapse of the Dale Dyke Dam 1864, Geoffrey Amey. Ref. 942.74 SST. |