St. Lucia's flood
Encyclopedia
St. Lucia's flood was a storm tide that affected the Netherlands
and Northern Germany
on December 14, 1287 (the day after St. Lucia Day
) when a dike broke during a storm, killing approximately 50,000 to 80,000 people in the fifth largest flood in recorded history. Much land was permanently flooded in what is now the Waddenzee and IJsselmeer
. It especially affected the north of the Netherlands, particularly Friesland
. The city of Griend
was almost completely destroyed, only ten houses were left standing. The name Zuiderzee
dates from this event, as the water had merely been a shallow inland lake when the first dikes were being built, but rising North Sea
levels created the "Southern Sea" when floods including this flood came in.
Although not known by the name of St Lucia, the same storm also had devastating effects on the other side of the water in England, where it is better known as a or the Great Storm. The city of Winchelsea
on Romney Marsh
was destroyed (later rebuilt on higher ground). Nearby Broomhill
was also destroyed. The course of the nearby river Rother
was diverted away from New Romney
, which was almost destroyed and left a mile from the coast, ending its role as a port. The Rother ran instead to sea at Rye
, prompting its rise as a port. The storm contributed to the collapse of a cliff at Hastings
, taking part of Hastings Castle
with it, blocking the harbour and ending its role as a trade centre, though it continued as a centre for fishing. Parts of Norfolk
were flooded, eg the village of Hickling
where 180 died and the water rose a foot above the high altar in the church. The port of Dunwich
in Suffolk began its decline. Whitstable
in Kent is also reported to have been hit by the surge.
In all, the storm can be seen to have had a powerful effect on the Cinque Ports
, two of which were hit (Hastings and New Romney), along with the supporting "Antient Town" of Winchelsea. Meanwhile, the other Ancient Town of Rye was given a leg up.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Northern Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
on December 14, 1287 (the day after St. Lucia Day
St. Lucia Day
Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is the Church feast day dedicated to St. Lucy and is observed on December 13. Its modern day celebration is generally associated with Sweden and Norway but is also observed in Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Malta, Bosnia, Bavaria,...
) when a dike broke during a storm, killing approximately 50,000 to 80,000 people in the fifth largest flood in recorded history. Much land was permanently flooded in what is now the Waddenzee and IJsselmeer
IJsselmeer
IJsselmeer is a shallow artificial lake of 1100 km² in the central Netherlands bordering the provinces of Flevoland, North Holland and Friesland, with an average depth of 5 to 6 m. The IJsselmeer is the largest lake in Western Europe....
. It especially affected the north of the Netherlands, particularly Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
. The city of Griend
Griend
Griend is a small uninhabited Dutch island in the Wadden Sea, lying around 12 kilometres south of Terschelling. It is one of the West Frisian Islands, and belongs to the municipality of Terschelling...
was almost completely destroyed, only ten houses were left standing. The name Zuiderzee
Zuider Zee
The Zuiderzee was a shallow bay of the North Sea in the northwest of the Netherlands, extending about 100 km inland and at most 50 km wide, with an overall depth of about 4 to 5 metres and a coastline of about 300 km . It covered...
dates from this event, as the water had merely been a shallow inland lake when the first dikes were being built, but rising North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
levels created the "Southern Sea" when floods including this flood came in.
Although not known by the name of St Lucia, the same storm also had devastating effects on the other side of the water in England, where it is better known as a or the Great Storm. The city of Winchelsea
Winchelsea
Winchelsea is a small village in East Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately two miles south west of Rye and seven miles north east of Hastings...
on Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
was destroyed (later rebuilt on higher ground). Nearby Broomhill
Broomhill
Broomhill is a place name, and may refer to:in England* Broomhill, Bristol, a district near Brislington in south Bristol* Broomhill, Frome Vale, a district near Stapleton in north Bristol...
was also destroyed. The course of the nearby river Rother
Rother
Rother is a local government district in East Sussex, England. The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries.-History:...
was diverted away from New Romney
New Romney
New Romney is a small town in Kent, England, on the edge of Romney Marsh, an area of flat, rich agricultural land reclaimed from the sea after the harbour began to be silted up. New Romney was once a sea port, with the harbour adjacent to the church, but is now more than a mile from the sea...
, which was almost destroyed and left a mile from the coast, ending its role as a port. The Rother ran instead to sea at Rye
Rye, East Sussex
Rye is a small town in East Sussex, England, which stands approximately two miles from the open sea and is at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede...
, prompting its rise as a port. The storm contributed to the collapse of a cliff at Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, taking part of Hastings Castle
Hastings Castle
Hastings Castle is situated in the town of Hastings, East Sussex .Before or immediately after landing in England in 1066 William of Normandy ordered three fortifications to be built, Pevensey Castle in September 1066, Hastings and Dover, a few days after the battle. Hastings Castle was originally...
with it, blocking the harbour and ending its role as a trade centre, though it continued as a centre for fishing. Parts of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
were flooded, eg the village of Hickling
Hickling, Norfolk
Hickling is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is 22 miles south-east of Cromer, 20.3 miles north-east of Norwich and 137 miles north-east of London. The village lies 3 miles east of the Broadlands town of Stalham...
where 180 died and the water rose a foot above the high altar in the church. The port of Dunwich
Dunwich
Dunwich is a small town in Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.Dunwich was the capital of East Anglia 1500 years ago but the harbour and most of the town have since disappeared due to coastal erosion. Its decline began in 1286 when a sea surge hit the East Anglian coast, and...
in Suffolk began its decline. Whitstable
Whitstable
Whitstable is a seaside town in Northeast Kent, Southeast England. It is approximately north of the city of Canterbury and approximately west of the seaside town of Herne Bay. It is part of the City of Canterbury district and has a population of about 30,000.Whitstable is famous for its oysters,...
in Kent is also reported to have been hit by the surge.
In all, the storm can be seen to have had a powerful effect on the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
, two of which were hit (Hastings and New Romney), along with the supporting "Antient Town" of Winchelsea. Meanwhile, the other Ancient Town of Rye was given a leg up.