PONTEFRACT BOATS FOR BENTLEY FLOODS

ADDED 5 OCTOBER 2007

Earlier this evening I was typing out an article that had been published in the Pontefract Advertiser on 28th May 1932, describing the floods in Pontefract and the surrounding district that year. It got me thinking about the floods experienced in several areas of the country earlier this year, notably the ones at Toll Bar and Bentley. Imagine my surprise part way through typing up the article to find a mention of Bentley and a description of the severe floods experienced there back in 1932 - almost 75 years to the day of those dreadful scenes back in June of this year.

Did you know that in May 1932, a request was received in Pontefract for the loan of boats from Pontefract Park Lake to assist in the rescue of 600 marooned families in Bentley and for use in carrying supplies to them? 12 boats from the Park Lake were duly despatched on the back of four lorries.

Quite a number of very interesting articles, reproduced in their entirety, have now been published on the Pontefract website, thanks to the loan of a collection of articles by Mr. John Holmes.

Michael Norfolk

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