Today in History: 11 March 1864

The Great Sheffield Flood

On this day in 1864, the Dale Dyke Dam ruptured and Sheffield in England was hit by a flood that killed some 270 people. As the dam was being filled following its construction, the dam gave way and a massive volume of water swept down the Loxley Valley and smashed into several towns. Some 800 houses were also destroyed in the disaster.

For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sheffield_Flood

Also, newspaper articles at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mossvalley/mv2/sheffield-flood.html

Photos at:
http://mick-armitage.staff.shef.ac.uk/sheffield/photogal/picindex.html