Kent's snowfalls have nothing on Big Freeze of 1963
The winter of early 1963
was so severe coal barges were frozen on the Medway at
Rochester
As we shiver in sub-zero temperatures and mop up after our
weekend snowfall, spare a thought for those who lived
through Kent's winter of 1963.
While our snow has been measured in inches, the snow of exactly
half a century ago made the record books for chilling reasons.
Riverways were impassable
as parts of Kent became landlocked
On the 50th anniversary of what became known as The Big
Freeze of 1963, we look back at the year the sea froze in Kent.
The temperatures had in fact started to plummet in the previous
December, with a large amount of snowfall on Boxing Day leading to
reports of 18 inches of snow in Gravesend and drifts up to 8ft
deep.
Frozen sea, Marine
Parade, Sheerness, in Feb 1963
By January 1963 it was so cold the sea at Herne Bay had
completely frozen a mile out from shore.
The river Medway was also affected, with mini icebergs seen
floating - while the Navy had to use an icebreaker to keep Chatham
dockyard open.
Youngsters make the most
of the big freeze in Mote Park lake during the dreadful winter of
1963
More snow fell during February, which was accompanied by strong
winds, before the thaw finally began in early March.
The day the sea froze in
1963
Do you remember the Big Freeze of '63? Share your recollections
of the long winter by joining the debate below.
21/01/13
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