Pictures

Under the influence of high spring tides, low pressure, strong SW winds and high flows in the River Yeo, Pilton Park was seriously flooded early on 3rd January 2014, the water depth reaching about a metre and all the benches and rubbish bins being submerged. This photo at 07.45am, about 30min after the high tide, actually shows the water starting to flow out again into the river.

Pilton Park was once a marsh which flooded twice a day. Pilton Causeway was built across the marsh, with a bridge at each end, possibly as early as the 14th Century. It developed into the road of today over the centuries. However, as part of the flood defence scheme of the late 20th century, the Park is designed to flood on the highest tides, thus helping to protect the surrounding residential areas from flooding. The flood of 3rd January 2014 is reported, anecdotely, as the highest in recent years.

For more about the development of Pilton Causeway follow this link to another item in the archive:

http://vimp.thepiltonstory.org/document/Pilton-Causeway/a735cf8708877729...