Extreme Weather

This photo shows Sowerby Croft Lane in 1962.

The winter of 1947 was one of the worst recorded. In our area it began on 1st February, and by Wednesday 5th the Halifax Evening Courier was reporting that "With snow retaining its grip on Halifax and district for the fourth day, and white flakes still falling, the plight of some of the hill-top villages cut off from communication by road is becoming acute." Buses to Norland were having to turn round at Turbury Lane Ends and the telephone lines were down. (HXEC 05/02/1947)

The next day, Thursday, alongside reports of further severe snowfall, the following account appeared in the stop press of the Courier:-

"Food For Norland Cottagers"

"Occupants of cottages at Pickwood, Norland, who have been cut off since Sunday, today had their first food supplies since the weekend, when a 29-year-old farmer, Mr Jim Marsland, of Lower Fold farm, Norland, climbed along wall tops to Turbury, Norland, and then walked to West Vale, where he took a bus for Halifax. Several hours later he returned to Pickwood with a kit-bag full of food. In a few places the Norland drifts are 20 ft deep."  (HXEC 06/02/1947)

Another intrepid soul was the Norland postman (unfortunately not named) who "...succeeded, after a struggle, in completing his walk." (HXEC 06/02/1947)

More heroic efforts were recorded the next day, Friday:

"Although some roads in Norland are still blocked, a track has been forced for the delivery of essential foodstuffs. Mr Eric Smith, a Greetland baker, and his staff, have carried 50lb sacks on their backs along Turbury Lane and over the moors, to various customers, and to the Children's Holiday Home and Ladstone House. They have delivered over 600lbs of bread." (HXEC 07/02/1947)

Saturday saw a very interesting turn of events, when Mr Jim Marsland, the hero from Thursday, had a letter published in which he played down the severity of the conditions.

"1 Lower Fold, Norland Feb. 7th 1947

Sir, With reference to the paragraph published in the stop press column of your paper on Thursday referring to my journey to Halifax of the same day, whoever gave you the information greatly exaggerated the conditions and facts. The journey was undertaken purely for personal and business reasons, and we have not been snowed in since Sunday, as numerous people have been to both Halifax and Sowerby Bridge daily. As for 20 foot drifts, I myself have yet to see one between Norland and Turbury.

Yours etc

Mr Jim Marsland."   (HXEC 08/02/1947)

As they always say, you can't believe everything you read in the papers! Be that as it may, early the next week the Courier was still reporting that Norland was cut off.

"Norland Cut Off

Mr M D Graham, a Norland resident, told a Courier and Guardian reporter today that no milk had been taken out of that village since last Sunday week. A bulldozer did clear the road on Saturday, but the farmers could still not get out. No coal deliveries had taken place at Norland for six weeks. The farmers had no turnips or hay for their cattle, and he knew of two farmers who had actually carried a half-cwt (1) sack of corn each up to their premises from Sowerby Bridge.

Mr T D Devine, who visited Norland this morning, said that nobody appeared to be doing anything about the situation at Norland. He travelled there via Greetland, and said that the road was clear to the top of Greetland, but was impassable for vehicles to Norland. There was no road to Norland from Greetland or Sowerby Bridge, and the village was completely cut off."  (HXEC 11/02/1947)

(1) half-cwt  = 56 lbs = approx 25 kilos

Two days later conditions were still very bad.

"Desperate Conditions at Norland"

"While most of the villages surrounding Halifax have been afforded some relief in the past few days, County Councillor Kelsall Broadley (see People section) stated today that conditions at Norland are still desperate. Roads from Greetland and Sowerby Bridge still remain impassable to traffic, with the result that many homes are without coal or coke, the supply of potatoes and paraffin is exhausted, and the wholesale milk producers have no outlet for their supplies. Scores of gallons of milk have been poured down the drains. A cart loaded with milk churns is still stranded at the church corner, where it was abandoned on Sunday after hours of struggle. Some farmers have used up their hay, and the food for cattle is exhausted.

'I wonder if Norland is the victim of indifference, lack of foresight, or just incompetence?' remarks Coun Broadley.

Another Norland resident, who visited several points in the village this morning to find if there were any cases of acute distress, did not come across any, but he endorsed the position of shortage in which many villagers find themselves. Mr A Womersley, Clerk to Sowerby Bridge Council, said this morning: 'It has been an uneven battle between man and nature, but if the wind keeps down and there is no further snowfall, there should be a road for vehicles from Norland to Greetland within 48 hours. Many farmers in the Norland area have battled manfully to help themselves.'

Elland Council employees are clearing a path from Turbury to Clough Moor Bridge. Eventually the track is to be widened to allow vehicles to pass. Working towards this party is a gang from Sowerby Bridge Council, who are making their way from Norland church."  (HXEC 13/02/1947)

The lack of mechanical assistance in this snow clearing operation was made plain in the Courier the next day:

"Forty Men on Norland Road Clearances"

"There has been practically no additional fall of snow during the past two days, hence the gangs of men engaged on snow clearing have been able to make better headway in opening out roads to the hill-top villages and isolated farms. For days, in the early part of the week, the blizzards caused roads to be choked up again within a few hours of being cleared. Sowerby Bridge Council had 170 men at work in the area this morning, under the supervision of the Surveyor, Mr J Normanton."  

"The cutting out of a cart road from Sowerby Bridge to Norland Church was completed yesterday. It was cut through last week but was filled again with snow at the weekend. The men were digging through towards Greetland today. ...Another gang was working along Hob Lane, and a second along Sparkhouse Lane. There is now a cart track cut through to Doldrum Farm and progress has been made in cutting through the deep drifts in the direction of Pickwood Scar."

(HXEC 14/02/1947)

The next day, Saturday 15th February, in amongst the half time football scores in the stop press column, came the following news:

"The road from Greetland to Norland was opened this afternoon when the digging parties, working from Norland Church and Turbury, respectively, met at Clough Moor Bridge. Vehicles can now reach the village for the first time in a fortnight." (HXDC&G 15/02/1947)

Six days later, on Friday 21st February, there was another blizzard, coupled with arctic overnight temperatures ( -11C was recorded in Halifax that weekend). On Monday it was reported  that: "A resident in Norland this morning telephoned that the people in the district are still in a bad plight with roads blocked after Friday's return blizzard. Farmers are now short of hay, as well as provender; the distribution of milk is difficult and coal stocks are exhausted."  (HXEC 24/02/1947)

Despite that it was also reported that bus services had returned to near-normal:-

"For the first time for over three weeks, a Halifax Corporation bus was able to make the journey to Norland village last night, though assistance had to be given, before the vehicle was able to negotiate the complete route. But the road was blocked again this morning." (HXEC 26/02/1947)

The reason for the further road blockage was another huge blizzard during the night of 25th-26th February, with the average depth of new snow in the West Riding reported to be between one and two feet. It was particularly bad in Halifax, with the Borough Market closed because the weight of snow and ice on the roof had brought some glass panels in the roof crashing down; at the Shay, the Supporters' Club shed roof (40 yds long) collapsed inwards. (HXEC 26/02/1947)

However, almost immediately after the latest blizzard, a thaw set in, much to the relief of all concerned.