Storms are not exclusive to the 21st century as is proved by the following much shortened version of a few of the many reports that were published in The Ipswich Journal on 22nd January 1881...

December passed and the weather was still mild and almost warm at times. Christmas festivities went off in conditions that would have done no discredit to the month of May. New Year's Day passed and still the bright sun shone. Birds sung, and we began almost to hope that we had turned the corner. Even after 10 days of the New Year had passed and the days had begun perceptively to open. The weather was still mild, the young wheats were looking fresh and grassy and farmers were getting on bravely with their work. But a blast was being blown in the north and while we had sunny skies here in England, Scotland told melancholy tales of storms and snow and sleet, trains snowed up and postal communication stopped. Then, on Monday after the frost had extended to England and a slight fall of snow had fallen, came a warning that a change of some kind was coming across the Atlantic and would probably reach the English and Norwegian coasts. Never was a warning more promptly or truly followed. On Tuesday there were signs of frost breaking, however this was only temporary. The winds rose and blew in dangerous gusts. Towards morning the gale strengthened and a hurricane was blowing such is not often experienced in these islands. The few inches of snow which had fallen previously to Monday rapidly whirled from the roofs of houses and all exposed situations. The keen sharp air tore up stones and dust from the bare soil and the air was thick with this and with particles of snow. The effect produced on the landscape was as if snow had been suddenly changed to a light brown, and those who ventured forth on that morning found that the open-air life was not endurable. The drift of snow continued for several hours and late in the evening the streets of Ipswich were in many cases impassable. Such a fall of snow ... has not been seen in this town since the memorable year of 1855.

DEBENHAM: A serious storm which did considerable damage visited this town Tuesday last. Windows were smashed and some entirely blown in by the wind. Slates and tiles were dislodged from houses, chimneys were blown down and in one or two cases tiled roofs were completely taken off. One barn was taken partly away the other is quite down. Stacks were blown over and scattered in all directions, gates might be seen wrenched from their hinges. The whole town presented a wretched and deserted appearance. Snow began to fall about noon and by 8 o’clock had been blown in the low roads to a depth of nearly 3 feet. On Wednesday morning men might be seen throwing snow from the fronts of houses, where it had drifted to a great depth. The roads in all directions were blocked by five or 6 feet of snow so as to prevent all passengers by vehicle getting to and from the town. Tiles and chimney pots were taken off many dwelling houses. The snow was drifted so as to stop traffic for some time - in fact it was not till the Thursday following that the roads were at all passable and then only the principal ones.

EYE: Although the weather had been exceptionally severe for several days previous, such a wild and bitterly cold day as was Tuesday last, has not been experienced here for many years. That was a day to make those who are comfortably fed, clothed, and housed think of those “poor shivering wretches that bide the pelting of this pitiless storm”. A gale blew fiercely from the East all morning till about 12 o’clock when the town was visited by a furious hurricane which prevailed for several hours, and although no serious casualties were reported considerable damage was done. Corn and other stacks were in numerous instances, completely divested of their thatch, and wheat sheaves and large quantities of barley etc. blown to a great distance. A very large sheet of lead was blown from the roof of the Corn Exchange into the street. Tiles, slates and chimney pots innumerable were blown from the roofs of houses, forcibly reminding one of the following lines of the old song – My Eyes, what tiles and chimney pots about their heads are flying. About 5 o’clock in the afternoon snow began to fall and continue to do so hroughout the night. On Wednesday morning drifts of snow being from 2 to 4 feet were in many instances piled against the doors of houses in exposed places and in some of the outlying districts of the town the roads were rendered wholly impassible. For two or three days the mail cart service has been much interrupted, the postal delivery irregular and the trains late; in some instances, very late.

THORNHAM: Tuesday the 18th was the roughest day in this district ever remembered. The wind – especially about 2.30 pm was perfectly furious. Several large fir trees which have withstood the gales for 80 or more years fell victim to its vehemence.

FRAMLINGHAM: For the last week we have had an ‘old-fashioned winter’, there being sharp frosts and deep snow drifting ... to a considerable depth, the snowplough being used to clear the roads. On Tuesday we had a gale of wind all day. Our Mere has been visited by skaters.

The Journal also described many shipwrecks and dramatic rescues off the coast of Aldeburgh and Southwold. However, this was not the end of it for 1881 and another big storm occurred on Friday 14th October causing even more havoc around the county, particularly to trees which were in full leaf. There were several reports of young boys being killed or injured while collecting firewood from fallen trees. It is likely that one of these storms lead to the demise of the Redlingfield mill since the last mention of a miller in the village was in the 1879 trade directory.

Stephen Ling (Athelington, Horham & Redlingfield News, Spring 2024, Issue no. 64).