Historic Flooding
in Calderdale

The earliest recorded flood in the Calder Valley occurred in 1615, when Elland Bridge was destroyed. Over the centuries, more than 20 major floods have been documented through records and photographs, leading to widespread damage to infrastructure and buildings, and tragically, a number of fatalities.

The November 1901 flood was one of the most significant, with heavy rain causing the River Calder to overflow. It affected a 10-mile stretch, including towns like Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, and Elland, damaging homes, mills, schools, and key infrastructure like the Summit Tunnel and Ha'penny Bridge.

A sudden flood inundated the Calder Valley on 19th February 1920, reported as the worst since the summer of 1901.

In 2000, the Evening Courier reflected on the event, noting, “There had been torrential rain, but few people anticipated the outcome. In fact, the sheer speed with which the Calder was flooded in 1920 was the most remarkable aspect of the event.”

On one occasion, a heavy downpour transformed the hillside streams into raging torrents, flooding the low-lying land below. This is a recurring issue in the Upper Calder and Walsden Valleys, where the steep terrain and thin, impermeable vegetation contribute to rapid surface runoff. During this period, nine additional floods were recorded, primarily affecting the Upper Valley, where overflowing cloughs led to flooded homes and damaged infrastructure, including collapsed walls.

In September 1946, the Calder Valley suffered serious flooding from Todmorden to Brighouse. 905 houses were flooded.

On 27th September 1946, the Brighouse and Elland Echo reported: “Between 10 o’clock a week last night and about 5 o’clock on Friday afternoon, over three inches of rain fell locally. This was more than twice as much as the total rainfall for the whole of September last year. Never before, during the years that records have been kept, has so great a weight of water fallen in so short a time.” The article also noted that the floods caused thousands of pounds in damage, with lorries conducting rescue missions, workers stranded, Wellholme turning into a lake, and Rastrick being cut off.

Nearly eight years after the Valley endured its most severe flooding in living memory, another significant flood occurred in 1954. Mytholmroyd was particularly affected. The River Calder rose unusually quickly, leaving little time for residents and shopkeepers to protect their belongings. Within two hours, the river had risen by six feet, including a rapid two-foot rise in the final 15 minutes.

In January 1982, the River Calder overflowed, flooding around 900 industrial and residential properties. Later that year, severe thunderstorms struck the Cornholme area in August, impacting an additional 190 properties. Two more floods followed that same year, causing significant damage to homes and critical infrastructure.

Other events during this period included possibly the second most rain-intense event on record for the area in May 1989, which caused erosion and damage to sewers, properties, bridge supports, and retaining walls.
In December 1991, the Evening Courier reported that Calderdale Council had secured Government funding to cover the damage caused by flooding in May 1989. The article recounted the event: “During the flood, paths and gardens were swept away, power and telephone lines were lost, and residents on isolated Brook Terrace watched in horror as fierce floodwater blocked a culvert, which then exploded, sweeping away tons of earth and road.”

Issues with Mytholmroyd's drainage system caused frequent flooding, as heavy rainfall or melting snow repeatedly overwhelmed the drains. The Evening Courier reported, “Fire crews were called out to Brighouse and Mytholmroyd as rain and melting snow poured off the hillsides into drains that couldn’t cope.”

Just days before Christmas, heavy rain and a quick thaw caused chaos on the roads and in homes and businesses in Calderdale.

On 23rd December 1991, the Evening Courier reported, “Traders and householders who were left to clear up the damage and said the surprise floods would probably have cost them thousands.” In a display of resilience, the article also highlighted Mytholmroyd residents battling floodwaters to continue their Christmas shopping.

On 22nd June 2012, over 100mm of rain, equivalent to an entire month’s rainfall, fell within just a few hours, causing rivers to surge to their highest recorded levels. The River Calder reached a record height of 3.2 metres at Hebden Bridge. Just weeks later, on 9th July, a sudden cloudburst over Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd unleashed intense rainfall over a highly concentrated area in just three hours. The deluge cascading down from the surrounding hills overwhelmed local drainage systems, resulting in widespread flooding across the town centre and nearby villages.

The Todmorden Flood Group was formed shortly after the 2012 flood event and continues to support the community before, during and after a flood event.

On 29th July 2013, 19mm of rain fell in just 15 minutes, with total rainfall exceeding half the monthly average for July within 24 hours, overwhelming the town's drainage systems, causing localised flooding in Walsden and Todmorden. The road surface at Kershaw and Clough Road was severely damaged due to excess surface water.

The Hebden Bridge flood group was formed in early 2013 to support the local response to flooding. The group manage containers filled with equipment to reduce flooding in public areas and highways.

Storm Eva struck the Calder Valley on December 26, 2015, causing catastrophic flooding across the region. The storm followed closely on the heels of Storm Desmond, which had already saturated the ground, exacerbating the flooding caused by Eva.

Torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks, inundating homes, businesses, and infrastructure across the borough. Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, and Todmorden were among the worst-hit areas, with widespread disruption, power outages, and significant damage to property and transport networks.

The Eye on Calderdale website launched in early 2015 to provide comprehensive information about flooding, including real-time details, access to flood warnings and alerts, and river level data.

A range of grants and provisions was put in place to support homeowners and businesses recovering and building back stronger following the 2015 Boxing Day floods. These measures included suspending bills for flood victims, council tax discounts, and providing resilience grants to both businesses and homeowners. By December 2016, it is estimated that the cost to the council could exceed £50 million. The cost of the damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure alone is estimated at £25 million.

A flood warden network was established across the Calder Valley to enhance community resilience and local preparedness for flood events. Existing groups in Mytholmroyd, Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, and Copley grew in volunteer numbers, demonstrating strong local engagement. In addition, new flood warden groups were set up in Luddenden Foot, Sowerby Bridge and Elland, further strengthening the network’s reach and capacity across the region.

The Flood Risk Reduction Schemes One (FRRS1) programme included eight key projects designed to protect over 400 homes, approximately 150 businesses, and vital transport routes during future flooding events in Calderdale. Valued at up to £5.5 million, the FRRS1 programme was developed collaboratively by Calderdale Council and the Environment Agency in response to the severe flooding experienced between 2012 and 2015.

In October 2017, an ambitious and innovative pilot to reduce flooding in Calderdale was launched. 200,000 trees were planted as part of a series of Natural Flood Management measures planned that help slow the flow of flood water in the Calder Valley. In addition to the trees, a wide range of initiatives, such as leaky dams and blanket bog restoration, were introduced to the landscape to help reduce flood risk and enhance the environment.

The Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme significantly improved the village’s resilience against future flood events. Completed in collaboration with the Environment Agency and Calderdale Council, the scheme includes the construction of new flood walls, widening the river channel, and relocating critical infrastructure. These enhancements have greatly reduced flood risk to over 400 properties, offering peace of mind to residents and local businesses. The project also reflects the strength of community involvement and partnership working, setting a strong precedent for flood risk management across the Calder Valley.

In March 2019, flood sirens were activated across the Upper Calder Valley, and residents in Sowerby Bridge, Elland, and Brighouse were also warned to take immediate action. Localised surface water flooding led to several road closures and affected a small number of businesses and residential properties, with reports of cellar flooding in homes. The situation recurred in July 2019, when prolonged heavy rainfall triggered further flooding. The Environment Agency issued multiple flood warnings and once again activated the sirens. Significant surface water impacted key transport routes, including access roads into Todmorden, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of the area to intense weather events.

On 9th February 2020, Storm Ciara caused extensive damage across Calderdale, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the fourth major flood event in the area within eight years, affecting around 1,200 homes and businesses. The storm delivered a month’s worth of rain to parts of the borough in just 24 hours, resulting in severe damage to highways, transport networks, properties, and other essential infrastructure. On 15th February, UK Armed Forces personnel were deployed to Calderdale to support the ongoing recovery from flooding and the preparations for Storm Dennis.

Construction of key flood defences in Mytholmroyd was officially opened in 2021, following three years of construction work. Over £41 million was invested in the new defences, as part of partnership work to make the village more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The scheme better protects 400 homes and businesses from flooding.

Camera technology was installed along Calder Valley watercourses to monitor drainage and assess flood risk. Five new cameras were placed at Nutclough, Hebden Bridge; Stoney Royd Lane, Todmorden; Jumps Road, Todmorden; Redwater Clough, near Cornholme; and Copley Valley, complementing existing equipment at Hebble Brook and Ovenden Brook in Halifax. These sites were at risk of flooding without proper drainage maintenance. The cameras sent hourly images for remote monitoring, while water level monitors were added upstream and downstream to enhance flood warning systems.

A wetland nature reserve at Brearley Fields, Mytholmroyd is complete, transforming the former playing fields into a valuable wetland and naturally managing local flood risk. The project was part of a wider programme of work that was designed to increase floodwater storage on the floodplain of the River Calder and supports the creation of new wildlife habitats. Water is temporarily stored during storm events, reducing the scale and damaging effects of floods as well as improving green spaces.

Calderdale Council’s countryside volunteers support moorland restoration and carbon capture by studying various methods of growing sphagnum moss as part of the Growing Resilience project. Sphagnum moss, which is used to carpet the ground on local moors, is an important plant in natural flood management and carbon capture. It restores degraded moorland, soaks up carbon, retains water, prevents the decay of dead plant material and eventually forms peat.

The Eye on Calderdale website was originally created in early 2015. It provides comprehensive information about flooding, including real-time detail and access to flood warnings and alerts, as well as river level data. The site was completely transformed to better support businesses and residents across the borough.

TBC

The work in Copley FAS includes improvements to the existing flood embankment that surrounds the village. It also involves drainage enhancements at the cricket pitch to speed up water runoff, along with measures to manage and reduce the risk of surface water flooding. The Brighouse FAS includes upstream water storage in Whinney Hill Park and Wellholme Park, the replacement or repair of existing flood defences along the River Calder, and the widening of river channels to help prevent Clifton Beck and the River Calder from overflowing. In addition to reducing the risk of flooding to homes and businesses, the scheme will also deliver environmental benefits across the Clifton Beck Catchment. These include the creation and enhancement of natural habitats and support for Natural Flood Management measures.

Severe flooding struck the Upper Calder Valley in December 2024 as Storm Bert brought a combination of heavy rainfall and melting snow, overwhelming local waterways and drainage systems. The towns of Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, and Mytholmroyd were among the hardest hit, with river levels rising sharply and extensive surface water flooding reported. Around 50 properties were affected, and numerous road closures led to widespread disruption across the area.

The risk of flooding is always evolving, and so is our response. Through ongoing collaboration with communities and partners, we're continually strengthening our flood defences. The Calderdale Flood Action Plan continues to guide our efforts to recover from previous floods, mitigate future risks, and enhance long-term resilience.
Calderdale Council declared a climate emergency in early 2019. This recognises the threat and challenge that climate change poses to Calderdale. You can read Calderdale’s Climate Action Plan, which sets out what we all need to do to meet our Net Zero target by 2038.