The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-12 00:00:00

ALARMING FLOOD IN BIRMINGHAM.

One of the most serious, if not disastrous floods
which has occurred in this part of the country for many
years past, visited Birmingham yesterday evening.
Daring the afternoon, owing to the heavy and incessant
rain which has been falling for the last few days, but
more especially in the course of last night and to-day.
the River Rea, a small and unimportant stream, which
runs through the lower part of the town, rose to an
unusual height. It is stated that between five and
half-past seven o'clock the water, in some parts,
attained a height of from eight to ten feet. Th
arches of the several bridges being inadequatcouto
r°
the passage of the immense body of water, the
rounding neighbourhoods were inundated
.ho veef Bir-
extent of some miles, south, west, and
a river
ae
e are
o f
mingham. The fields on both sidesheofenpthpree
covered with water, and present t
itself
the
effects
one immense lake. In Birmin
In the neighbour-
of the flood have been disastrous.
has been destroyed.
siderable amount of proptllr
brickmaker, is sup_hood of Ballsall-heath and
tVaglahton's hole a con-
siderable
Mr. Harrison, an
Theto the amount of several
streets connecting the
Moseley-street, Cheapside,
hundreds of lolfavel". sufferedan d 6se' the hamlets of :De-
igyrbleith, are itnnassable ex-
parish of Birwrlertileyb
and
But the most serious injury has
ritend and
property in those streets which
run
thee to
river are flooded and stopped, with
Bradford-street, fdoborynclw ect
oßtih,e;
the Rea. The works situated on the im-
parallel
mediate age to machiner
great dam
y. The less to the taannfac-
turers who are located in this neighbourhood will, it is
calculated, amount to Soma thousands of pounds. In
Rea-street, and several other streets in the vicinity, the
inhabitants of the houses are either flooded out or
obliged to take refuge in the upper storeys of their
dwellings. The family of one poor woman had a
narrow escape from destruction. A row of houses,
recently erected, one of which abuts on the river in
Mill-lane, in the neighbourhood of Derituid-beidge, had
been partially des;,royed. About half-past six o'clock a
crash was heard. The inmates immediately fled, and in
a moment afterwards the end wall of the house was pre-
cipitated into the river. Very fortunately no person
"5 hurt. During the evening, the carcases of pigs,
and other animal', were seer, floating along the
current, leading into the agricultural districts of Wor-
es,stcrshire. It is supposed that considerable loss has
occurred in the neighbouring districts of Worcestershire.
The immense flow of water is thought to come from the
Lickoy fills, but no doubt it is greatly augmented by
Ow recently constructed culverts of this town.

A curi,,ui property was to be seen at the Auction
Mart on Monday last. The " King of the Nuggets,"
weighing 330 ounces, and of the purest gold, and several
others of smaller size, were offered for competition by
Mr Collier. The first bidding for the Royal Nugget was
1,4001. Several offers were made, but after some com-
petition it was ultimately bought in for 1,5001. The
proprietors of the Panorama of the Australian Gold
Fields purchased two of these beautiful specimens of
Australian gold, which they intend to exhibit to the
public.