The Great Gale

In January 1953, severe storms in the North Sea struck Holland, Belgium and Britain’s east coast causing the loss of 307 lives and making thousands homeless. Widespread livestock casualties were reported and thousands of acres of farmland were poisoned with sea water. Produced by the Ferguson Film Unit, this film shows various tractors and attachments being put to use draining the land, repairing the sea wall and spreading gypsum to reduce the effects of salt in the soil.

On the night of January the 31st, a high spring tide and a violent gale in the North Sea caused a water level rise of more than 5.6 metres above the expected high tide mark. The Netherlands was worst affected, but Belgium, Scotland and England all recorded loss of life. Numerous fishing trawlers were lost in the storm and the ferry MV Princess Victoria was lost at sea in the North Channel east of Belfast. As a result of the storm, and with the expectation that similar events would occur from time to time, storm surge barriers were constructed on the River Thames in London and the River Hull on the Humber estuary, and projects to strengthen sea defences along the east coast were launched.