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Floods in Oxford

There was bad flooding in 1903 (June), 1947 (March), 1954 (November), 1959, 1979 (December), 1998 (Easter), 2007 (July), and 2014 (January). Flooding in Oxford was much worse before 1900, as until then the locks were built not to let down the water but to keep it back, so that the flood plains nearly always flooded after heavy rain. They often remained permanently flooded in winter, and when they froze it was possible to skate for miles across the fields above and below Oxford.

Berrow's Worcester Journal reported on 17 March 1774:

Oxford, March 12. The incessant Rains and Snow, which fell in this Neighbourhood from Saturday Night to Wednesday Evening, exceeded every Thing of that Nature ever remembered; and the Floods occasioned thereby are almost incredible. —The temporary Foot Bridge across Angel Meadow was rendered impassable; the Water overflowed the Top of Part of the Hedge enclosing the Water Walks at Magdalen College; in St. Thomas's Parish the Inhabitants were confined in their upper Floors, and the Communication held with them was by means of Boats; and Bullstock Bridge, on the new Botley Road, sustained considerable damage.

Here is an extract from Jackson's Oxford Journal of 4 July 1789:

The rains which have lately fallen in and near Oxford, have raised the Isis to such a height, as to threaten total destruction to the hay harvest. The Cherwell is upwards of 1 feet perpendicularly higher than the Isis, and falls with an amazing eddy.