reprinted with the permission of the Brent Magazine
Heavy rain is little surprise to Londoners but, when serious downpours strike, Brent can be at the mercy of its waterways.
The worst recorded incident was in 1840 when, after a week of solid rain, the dam on the Welsh Harp reservoir burst and several people drowned. The pounding of water pouring through the breech was said to be so loud that it drowned out the chimes of the nearby Kingsbury Church.
During the sultry evening of 16 August 1977 people welcomed the drops of heavy rain on their window panes. It was the first rain the capital had seen in months and garders gave collective thanks. But by 3am there was no sign of the torrential rain abating and, after emergency calls to the police and council, the sluice gates at the Welsh Harp were opened wider to release the vast amount of river water pouring into it.
More than 1,000 cubic feet of water a second rushed into the already swollen waters of the lower Brent. A deluge was inevitable. By morning, areas of north London lay under five feet of water when the river burst its banks. More than 200 houses were flooded in Stonebridge and Kenton along with a number of factories, shops and schools. Traffic ground to a standstill as major roads like the North Circular and Hanger Lane were submerged and the Metropolitan Line was temporarily closed as floodwaters lapped over its tracks.
Fire fighters rescued disabled residents and pensioners, marooned in water-logged bedrooms, and a motorist had to be plucked from her car. Scores of families were made homeless. When the floodwater receded, as quickly as it came, it left a trail of wrecked cars and drowned pets in its muddy wake. Brent heaved a sigh of relief.
The Brent Magazine, September/October 2000
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