Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Depressing Christmas 1912

Ryde Pier Tram

CHRISTMAS GALES
The local press, issue 28 December 1912, reported:  On Christmas Day and Boxing Day the most depressing and unpleasant weather prevailed.  Rain fell continuously with, a high wind which developed into a furious gale with thunder on Boxing Day. There were several vivid flashes of lightening close to Ryde, one of which set fire to a rick on Mr. Edward Carter’s land at Rowlands.

Flooded tunnel & Esplanade

The tide was unusually high on Boxing Day, which combined with the rough sea, did much damage.  The sea flooded the Esplanade Gardens and roadway, and played havoc with the footpath and road by the Canoe Lake.  The parapet of the sea wall at Cornwall slipway was smashed to pieces by the heavy seas.

The Pier was almost awash so that the electric trams were unable to run.  Passengers had therefore to walk down the pier, getting wet through in the process.  Several of the steamboats did not run, with the result that the R.M.A. Band did not arrive for the Popular Concert.

 * However, the weather seems a trivial inconvenience when one reads the following article on the next page of that newspaper.  There is always someone worse off than yourself.

THE PAUPER’S CHRISTMAS
Under existing conditions most people agree that the workhouse inmate’s lot is far from being a happy one. At Christmas time we hear a good deal about the luxuries supplied to paupers, and the festive board of good things. Whilst on the other hand, there are Boards of Guardians, with an almost incredible narrow-mindedness have refused to sanction the allowance of a glass of beer with the Christmas meal. Such instances of bigotry crop up every year.  Workhouses are not ideal institutions, but much can be done to improve them.

It is interesting to note that the Unionist Social Reform Committee have taken this matter in hand,  One of their reforms is the training of workhouse children in industries and trades so as to give them an opportunity of facing the world well equipped for the task, and free from the Poor Law stigma.

Note:
The photo of the flooded Esplanade & tunnel was 3 years previous (1909).  Because the Esplanade was claimed land from the sea, the railway tunnel, the roadway and basements of the shops, also property in the Strand, have always had a problem with  flooding right up to the present day (2025)

Sources: IW Observer & RSHG Archive
Images: Roy Brinton Collection – 
Article: Ann Barrett