Flooding and Drainage

Flooding in the village June 2020

Parts of Whitchurch on Thames have suffered over the years from occasional flooding. There are two different kinds. One is river flooding from the Thames, a slow process with one or two days of warning beforehand and a water level that tends to stay high for several days. The other is flash flooding, caused by exceptionally heavy local rainfall, which can rapidly cause pooling in the centre of the village, without warning, and lasts for only a short time.

The most recent major river flood occurred in early 2014. The most recent flash flood, which caused damage to The Greyhound, occurred on 16th June 2020.

During and after each of these events, village residents John Southey and Richard Wingfield spent time investigating, writing up and collating information of potential use to the village in future flood events. They have assembled this information, which includes recommendations, in two reports:

• Report on river flooding in Whitchurch-on-Thames in January and February 2014 – Updated edition, August 2020.
• Report on the flash flood in Whitchurch of 16th June 2020

There is a third document, still being worked on, in which John Southey has put together a wealth of detailed information:

• Various notes about flooding in Whitchurch-on-Thames – Draft, March 2022.

Among other discoveries, the secrets of the mysterious culvert that conveys the historic village watercourse across the High Street and beneath The Greyhound have gradually emerged.

Richard Wingfield, August 2022