Over the Spring Bank holiday, Boscastle Village Archives held a 2 day exhibition to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 flood. The flood was devastating, major damage caused by the power of the water, lifting trees and cars and smashing them against buildings, many people at great risk of harm. The aftermath described by those who witnessed it as gazing on a film set, it just didn’t feel real.
As the Environment Agency recorded in their post flood report:
“Some of the worst floods ever seen in Britain devastated Boscastle and surrounding areas of North Cornwall on 16th August 2004. Swift action by local people and emergency services meant that no lives were lost. Seven helicopters rescued about 100 people from rooftops, cars and trees.”
The public exhibition, held in the old Boho shop premises next to the Wellington Hotel attracted over 300 visitors. Boscastle Village Archives are grateful to St Austell Brewery for allowing us to use the premises free of charge. We are also grateful to those who attended, supported and encouraged us, including those who supplied photographs and personal accounts of the day.
We are hoping that there will be further opportunities for us to stage additional pop-up exhibitions in the Harbour area over the Summer, including the weekend of the anniversary of the flood and its immediate aftermath, 16th – 18th August. We would like to expand the exhibition to provide additional information about how the community came together after the flood to help each other and the visitors trapped without their cars or accommodation.
