Dreaming of a White Christmas?

As I write this article there is talk of possible light snowfall here in Forncett next week but, as global temperatures continue to rise, then the chances of serious snowfall here in Norfolk seem to be rapidly disappearing. White Christmases are really not that common, even though to qualify, there needs to be just a single snowflake falling on 25th December! Indeed, it has always been the case that snow is much more likely to fall in January or February than in December and the most recent example here in Forncett was the notorious 2018 "Beast from the East". However, the "Beast" was as nothing compared with snow falls that have affected the village in the past.

1836 did see a White Christmas and the Norfolk Chronicle reported that in Diss:

"From the unprecedented fall of snow on Christmas Day last and the day following the roads are completely blocked, and all intercourse with the adjoining villages is suspended. The daily coach has not arrived and the mails have been five hours behind their stated times."

"Such an obstruction to travelling has not occurred since February 1799."

Of course, we have no photographs of those dramatic events but the very heavy snows of 1947 were photographed. From 22 January to 17 March, snow fell every day somewhere in the UK and, as the temperature seldom rose more than a degree or two above freezing, the snow and ice accumulated. Across Britain, drifts up to five metres deep blocked roads and railways, and people were cut off for days. The photos below were provided by Vic Smith who was 12 years old at the time and living at Maltings Farm in Forncett End.

Drifts were clearly 4-5 ft. deep and the village must have been cut off for many days. Indeed, the occupants of Brock's Watering on Gilderswood were reportedly cut off for nine weeks! Given that many houses did not have electricity at this time, life must have been very hard.

Similar weather arrived in 1963 when England experienced the coldest winter since 1740! On Boxing Day 1962 the snow lay 30 cm (1 ft.) deep and much of England was continuously under snow until March 1963.

January 1979 was East Anglia's third coldest on record (after 1947 and 1963) and 35 cm of snow fell in January. Many roads were blocked and two-thirds of Norfolk's schools were forced to close. Here in Forncett, snow drifts were incredibly deep in places as shown by this photo of Tabernacle Lane looking south. The lane had been completely filled by snow drifts and the photo shows Su Leavesley standing on the edge of the lane in the field above.

So, whilst a light dusting of snow at Christmas might delight many, especially children, we should probably hope that this coming festive season and the following two months won't emulate the winters of 1947, 1963 and 1979!

Wishing all of you a Very Happy Christmas and a relatively warm, sunny New Year.   

With thanks to Vic Smith and Su Leavesley for providing the photographs.