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Grove Street Flood Levels


What are they?


The Grove Street area of Bath suffered from recurrent flooding of the River Avon into the middle of the twentieth century. Three flood marks record the height of the flood in 1823.

Frank Greenhalgh was appointed Engineer to the River Avon (Bristol) Catchment Board in 1953 and he started to tackle the problem systematically. Another disastrous flood in 1960 increased the urgency and over the ten year period 1963-1972 the river was dredged, banks were raised and reinforced by sheet-piling. Pulteney Weir was redesigned and new sluice gates were installed.

Where are they in Bath?


The three marks are located thus:
(1) On the wall of the New Prison in Grove Street;
(2) On the wall of the Victoria School House, situated on the footpath linking Grove Street to Henrietta Street;
(3) On the wall at the point where the footpath joins Henrietta Street.

Flood Mark 1: New Prison, Grove Street


Location of flood mark on wall of New Prison, Grove Street
This flood level contains the text: "FLOOD November 1823" carved into the stone.
Flood mark on wall of New Prison, Grove Street

Flood mark 2: Victoria School House


Location of flood mark on wall of Victoria School House
Here the mark consists of the engraved letters 'F' and 'L'  with dashes indicating the actual flood level:
Flood mark on wall of Victoria School House

Flood mark 3: Henrietta Street



Location of flood level mark on Henrietta Street Again, the mark consists of the letters 'F' and 'L' with two dashes indicating the exact level:
Flood mark on wall in Henrietta Street

Location map of Grove Street flood levels:
Grove Street flood levels location map

  Other flood level marks are found on Norfolk Buildings and the Widcombe footbridge butress.

 

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