Christmas Day Floods – Picture Gallery

Published on: 25 Dec, 2013
Updated on: 26 Dec, 2013

People out for their traditional Christmas Day walk in Guildford today had a unique spectacle – never has a December 25th seen floods in the town centre.

Although the floodwater is not as high as the infamous floods of September 1968, it is comparable to 1928 and 1936 (although few will have memories of those) and similar to the most previous floods of 2000.

Here is a selection of photos taken this Christmas morning…

View from the foot of the High Street.

The Farnham Road car park under water.

People stand on the Town Bridge to see the floods.

Looking down The Mount towards St Nicolas’ Church.

The water is not so high as it was in 1968, as seen by the plaque at St Nicolas’ Church.

Reflections of the treadwheel crane.

Scene at the Town Mill with Debenhams to the left.

The panto at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre was cancelled on Christmas Eve.

Sandbags at the Arnaud, but the water still seeped in.

Sandbags at the Arnaud, but it appears the water still seeped in.

The water is still high at Millmead. Two the roofs of two car can been seen.

The water is still high at Millmead. The roofs of two car can been seen.

Sightseers snap some photos behind the Arnaud theatre.

The hydro-electric plant at the Town Mill has plenty of water to power it.

Walnut Tree Close remains closed.

Floodwater at the seven arch bridge in Walnut Tree Close.

No way through!

All at sea at the sea cadets.

Sculpture park at Woodbridge Meadows under water.

Out for walk with the sun shining on Christmas morning.

Responses to Christmas Day Floods – Picture Gallery

Aoife Kennedy Reply

December 25, 2013 at 1:59 pm

Desperately trying to find out whether Mary Road (Guildford) has flooded, having Christmas in Australia but very worried about our house in Guildford, any update would be very gratefully received.

Editor: We have made some inquiries for you. Evidently not much flooding in William Road, so Mary Road is probably ok.
- Martin Giles Reply
  
  December 25, 2013 at 10:43 pm
  
  Reply sent in from your neighbour(?) ‘Tim’: “Think it is Ok. Most of the water seems to have overflowed onto the western bank. PS: phone Guildford police station, they’ll know, given it’s pretty much next door!
  
  Hope that puts your mind at rest. Good luck. Ed
Stu Bennett Reply

December 25, 2013 at 8:53 pm

Mary Road was under water earlier today at road level. I live there but I am away. A friend took a picture on his phone when the water was receding. I can’t tell if my house was breached from the photo. It would depend on how much it receded prior to the photo. Touch and go.
- Martin Giles Reply
  
  December 25, 2013 at 10:39 pm
  
  Good luck Stu to you and your neighbours, from all at The Dragon. Ed
Anne Kerby Reply

December 26, 2013 at 12:14 am

We are away on holiday and are very concerned about our house in Stoughton Road (it backs onto the canal!) and whether or not it has been flooded. If you have any news on the Stoughton Road area it would be greatly appreciated.
Shirley and Brian West Reply

December 26, 2013 at 8:06 am

Congratulations to all on the site for keeping such a wonderful update on these floods the photos are amazing. You have kept Guildford and Shalford so informed of what is going on.

I am sure that everyone would like to thank The Dragon for all your hard work and care at this sad Christmas time.

Thank you. Ed
Caroline Dahl Reply

December 26, 2013 at 4:41 pm

On the right hand side of your photo of the Guildford Sea Cadets’ building is my friend’s narrow boat.

It’s now sitting on the bottom of the river.
John Lomas Reply

December 27, 2013 at 1:04 pm

I remember, back in the 50’s, Farnham Road bus station (now the car park), Millmead, Friary Street and the Onslow Street bus station all being flooded.

Of course, back then they could still relieve the pressure on the town by opening the sluices into the upstream flood plains around Shalford, including the fields just beyond Tumbling Bay which were also the skating fields when they froze.

Once the started building on those plains it pushes the water levels higher/quicker in town.
The flood plains downstream from Guildford cannot protect Guildford they can only protect places further downstream.

Shalford meadows were completely flooded this time, regardless of the sluice gates, so I don’t think that would have made a bid difference. Which building development in the flood plain are you referring to? Ed.