Feb. 2. - A most tempestuous wind accompanied with a heavy rain began to blow from the South-west, and continued with little intermission till the morning of the following day, when it abated. The rain caused a considerable flood in the rivers Tyne, Wear, and Tees….At Sunderland much damage was done by the falling of chimnies, also to the roofs of houses. Many ships and keels in the river were driven from their moorings and much injured by the effects of the gale, but no lives were lost. At Chester-le-street the Wear was so swelled by the rains, that it extended above the arch of the New Bridge, which is more than a quarter of a mile from the channel of the river; the whole intermediate space was a complete sheet of water, by which much injury was sustained.It was supposed that the river Wear rose 12 feet above its ordinary height; its banks were overflowed, and the low-lands completely inundated….
From: T Fordyce, J. Sykes. Local records; or, Historical register of remarkable events which have occurred in Northumberland and Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Berwick-upon-Tweed..., published 1867
