South Yorkshire Times September 2, 1950

Wednesday’s Storm

Nearly Two Inches of Rain in Mexborough District

Wednesday’s torrential rain flooded a 100 yards stretch of Rowms Lane, Swinton, to a depth of nearly three feet.

The new footpath proved a boon to hundreds of workers in the Mexborough and Swinton districts who used it to by-pass the rapidly-rising water, which was pouring out of manholes.

Through trolley bus services between Mexborough and Rotherham were suspended for four hours, but a Mexborough and Swinton Traction Co. petrol bus ferried passengers across the water to trolley buses which turned round at each end of the flood water.

Mr. T. P. O’Donnell, managing engineer to the Mexborough and Swinton Traction Co Ltd., told the ” South Yorkshire ‘times ” yesterday that in his opinion the flood water was much deeper than before the new footpath was built, and that something should be done immediately about ” this very serious matter.”

Many small children, paddling in the water in Wellington boots, were constantly being warned about the danger of falling into manholes, which had had their covers forced off.

Motorists, with their trousers rolled up to their knees, were seen pushing their cars out of the water. One lorry driver reversed his vehicle into the back of a less fortunate colleague and helped him out of the water.

Yesterday morning (Thursday), workmen were shovelling away the, work layer of mud which the thick layer of mud had left behind. There were 18 in of water under Swinton Midland railway bridge during the downpour, but this quickly subsided.

The rainfall of 1.62ins., from 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning to 9 a.m. on Thursday morning, was described as ” exceptional ” by Mr. J. Chambers, Engineer and Surveyor to Mexborough Urban Council.

The fall made a total of 3.26ins. for August up to yesterday (Thursday), compared with 1.59ins. for August last year. But the total of 4.50 ins. for August, 1948 easily beat this month’s total.