Dramatic summer weather in 1858

‘On Wednesday morning a terrific thunder storm passed over Tickhill about six o’clock. The thunder was very heavy, the lightning remarkably vivid, the rain fell in torrents to such an extent that in several parts of the principal streets there was a complete sheet of water, the drains being unable to carry it off as it fell. It was attended with hailstones as large as nuts or small marbles, and panes of glass in windows were broken, besides doing other damage.’ (‘Sheffield Independent’, Saturday, 12 June 1858, page 6.)

The damage done to farming produce in this district by the thunder storm on Thursday afternoon is very extensive. A wheat stack near Finningley and another in the neighbourhood of Tickhill were fired by the electric fluid, and not far from the latter place, we understand that the lightning struck a wagon that was in a field laden with wheat. The wheat and body of the wagon it lifted into the air while the wheels and horses were not touched. The person in charge had a narrow escape.’ (‘Sheffield Daily Telegraph’, Monday, 16 August 1858, page 3.)