At the risk of floodwaters: historical flood risk and its social impacts in the area of the Wash in eastern England (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire) Mid 17th century–end of the 19th century

Abstract

Abstract. The floods were classified according to a severity scale derived from the contents of the historical sources. It enables an evaluation of these events in spite of the lack of instrumental data for the major part of period. It shows that the chronology and the severity of the floods in this part of England were contradictory from one century to another one and that their origins, as their seasonality, underwent not insignificant changes. The paper then shows that local societies (urban and rural) did not passively accept these extreme climate events. It shows that the flood questioned directly challenged the socioeconomic balance of the populations and that they tried to face it in a pragmatic and sustainable way.