The flood in Workington, Cumbria, 19th November 2009

The flood in Workington, 19th-20th November 2009

Location : Workington
Map - Google
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 001286

On thursday 19th November, the rivers Cocker and Derwent, which join in Cockermouth, rose to a level that flooded much of central Cockermouth, leaving most of the shops, and businesses in the town completely wrecked.

The effect of this water rushing towards Workington destroyed the Northside road bridge, destroyed the Navvies footbridge, and damaged the Calva road bridge, thus making all links across the river impassable apart from the railway.

The Calva Bridge was closed after the main deck sank about a foot and a large crack appeared in the central arch over the River Derwent.

It is about half a mile upstream from the Northside Bridge, where PC Bill Barker was swept to his death as it collapsed early on Friday 20th November. A smaller foot bridge in between the two, known locally as the Navvies Bridge, has also collapsed.

A rain gauge at Seathwaite Farm, about 15 miles south-east of Cockermouth, reported the greatest day of British rainfall since records began more than 200 years ago, a total of 316.4mm (12.5in). To give an idea of scale, that is almost half Cumbria�s monthly rainfall record, which has stood since 1852.

A temporary footbridge was built by the Army, and a temporary railway station built north of the river, with a free railway shuttle service between Workington and Maryport.

Until mid march the only way by road is a detour via Cockermouth and Maryport - some 25 miles, which many people were having to do every day. To avoid motorists taking short cuts through Little Broughton, that river bridge was also closed. In mid march the Little Broughton bridge was open to traffic in one direction only.

In February work started on a temporary road bridge at Workington, and this should be open for use on the 21st April 2010.

The Northside bridge - washed away by the flood early on friday 20th November.

The destroyed Navvies footbridge, and the Calva road bridge seriously damaged and subsequently closed to traffic and pedestrians. In the distance is the new temporary footbridge.

The destroyed Navvies footbridge

The new temporary footbridge built by the Army, and now known as Barker Crossing, in memory of PC Bill Barker, who died whilst protecting the public from crossing the Northside bridge.

The Calva bridge, and the Barker Crossing.

A temporary railway station - Workington North, by Dunmail Park, built in record time to help people cross the river using a shuttle train service between Workington and Maryport.

Northside bridge.

The wall around Camerton church was destroyed, as were many of the gravestones in the churchyard.

The bridge at Camerton that carried the track to Camerton church over the disused railway, about 200-300 yards from the river, destroyed by flood water from the nearby River Derwent. The floods were such that the river flooded the flood plain and created another river on the old railway line area! This has now cut off access to Camerton church.

The damaged bridge is some distance from the River Derwent.

Here you can see the re-routing of the River Derwent.

The bridge at Little Broughton being repaired

The new temporary roadbridge as at 11th April. Due to open very soon.

Aerial photos by Simon Ledingham. Other photos by Malcolm Minshaw.