Island Lashed by Severe Gales 1949
Rarely have such wild conditions been experience in the Island as those during the week-end, when the new year literally came in with a roar. Winds reaching Force 10 were officially recorded, and they were accompanied by thunderstorms, torrential rain, hail and snow.
TORNADO HITS RYDE FARM
Much damage was done at Hardingshute Farm, on the boarders of Whitefield Woods, near Ryde, on Saturday evening, when a miniature tornado tore the roofs from an 80ft. barn, a cart house, and a thatched cow shed. The southern portion of the farmhouse was also extensively damaged. Hayricks were partly blown away, and about a dozen trees uprooted, while many others had branches ripped off.
Fortunately, the farmer, Mr. B. J. Callaway, and his wife and mother, were indoors at the time, and no cattle and poultry were hurt. The sole casualty was a cat, which was dug out from the debris of the barn on Tuesday still alive but injured. It ran away immediately on being released and has not been seen since.
The severity of the wind strength may be gauged by the fact that the whole of the damage was done within five minutes, at about 5.30pm., and although it must have been accompanied by considerable noise, nothing was heard in the house but the roar of the wind and the crashing thunder. It seems that the whirlwind first struck a row of eight elms in a field at the rear of the farm, tearing off large boughs, and partially demolishing two of four 30-ton hayricks, snapping in half the trunk of an 80ft. poplar tree close-by. It then hit with terrific force the stone barn, built in 1812, ripping off the asbestos roof for 30ft. on the western side and 50ft. on the opposite side. The sheeting together with great oak beams and tresses, were thrown into the farmyard. The double 12ft. doors on the east side were blown out, and an elevator forced through similar doors on the opposite side into the yard. The upper portions of the 18in. walls were also torn down and stones weighing as much as 1⅓cwt. thrown in all directions.
Much of the farm equipment was in the barn, including a reaper and binder, which was smashed. The barn was re-roofed last summer at a cost of £400. On the farther side of the farmyard the wind struck the cart-shed, tearing down part of slated roof and causing the other portion to collapse on to farm carts and a waggon. The adjoining cowshed, in which there were several calves, also received a severe buffeting. The thatched roof, which was rain sodden and consequently very heavy, was dislodged bodily, and came to rest precariously on the lee side of the building. Debris fell on to the loft floor, parts of which gave way to release a cascade of bricks on to the main floor.
Damage to the farmhouse was confined to the western end of the roof and gable, where tiles were stripped and rain penetrated one of the bedrooms. The piggeries and stable suffered lesser damage.
Eight elm trees uprooted in an adjoining field and a trail of damage in the woods across the road showed the path taken by the whirlwind before it spent itself. The extent of the damage was not discovered until daylight on Sunday, when the farm presented a scene of desolation. It was not until Tuesday that employees of a local contracting firm clearing up the debris, were able to extricate the elevator from beneath the barn roof, and the floor of the building was then feet high with rubble, under which were many valuable appliances. The farm is part of the Oglander estate.
Notes:
On the Harding Shute Farm website in 2025, it is advertised as Isle of Wight Mushrooms. The farmhouse is a grade 2 listed building.
To read how the storm affected other parts of the Island, the full article can be seen in the IW County Press 8 January 1949, page 5.
Source: IW County Press
Image: Roy Brinton Collection
Article: Ann Barrett