We have, in this country, an obsession with the weather. Looking at it, talking about it and complaining about it.
That is because we do have a lot of it but always the wrong type for any particular season.
You can appreciate the desire of many to seek out warmer foreign climes for their annual holidays or even take that big step and emigrate to enjoy a more predictable and consistent climate away from these shores.
The obsession has been a constant characteristic for some time as seen in the following extract from The Wakefield Journal and Examiner of June 1st 1860.
The article lists the weather conditions experienced over a period of 45 years from 1814 and was aimed at those amongst the readership "who took an interest in such things".
1814- this year is prefixed as remarkable for a severe winter from December 27th to February 7th 1815. The River Thames in London froze over.
1816- Extremely wet and cold throughout. One of the worst harvests ever known, Corn spritted in the ear and the loaves black under the crust.
1817- Very cold and wet in July and August but very fine in September which favoured the harvest.
1818- Intensely hot and dry, the thermometer twice at 89 degrees and often above 80 degrees
1819- a very fine hot summer, The month of August intensely hot. Scarcely any thunder.
1820- a fine summer on the whole and very productive
1821- Some very hot days occasionally but for the most part cold and showery. Immense rains during harvest which did great damage, November 30th great storms.
1822- a splendid year, hot and dry for the most part but heavy rains at times and much thunder. A very abundant harvest.
1823- A very cold showery summer. In July it rained every day except the 24th, Very little thunder. December 3rd hurricane.
1824- very fine and warm throughout but never intensely hot. the thermometer stood highest on September 1st and was at 79 degrees. Good harvest.
1825- Very hot and moist throughout, July 18th the thermometer stood at 90 degrees which is the highest observation in the course of these summers. Good harvest.
1826- the hottest and driest summer ever known, it began early and continued late. Cattle in Derbyshire had to be driven miles for water. The thermometer was twice at 88 degrees and often at 84 degrees, Abundant harvest.
1827- Hot and dry but not so much extremity as last summer. Good harvest.
1828- Immense rains which began July 9th and continued almost without cessation. Large floods July 16th and 3oth. Heavy thunderstorms. Bad harvest.
1829- a very cold stormy summer. In September the rains were very heavy.
1830- very cold and wet, especially in June. Much thunder.
1831- warm, gleamy, showery and electrical. A sickly summer. A great number of insects especially house flies.
1832- moderate for the most part without much inclination either way or the other. October 8th hurricane.
1833- very fine especially the first part, An abundant harvest. November 9th and December 31st two great storms.
1834- A very fine hot summer but heavy rains at the end of July. An early and productive harvest.
1835- Storm, February 22nd. Hot and dry with some showery exceptions. Another abundant harvest.
1836- In the Midland Counties dry weather predominated. Remarkable for the almost entire destruction of the turnip crop by the fly. Harvest not amiss.
1837- A fair average of hot weather but preceded by a very severe spring, Harvest deficient.
1838- A great frost from January to March. A cold wet spring and a late unproductive harvest.
1839- Hurricane 6th January. Lockwoods and New York Packet Ship lost, Very heavy rains almost without cessation. The harvest not unproductive but much damaged.
1840- A fine warm summer with intense heat in August. Fine harvest weather. Seed deficient.
1841- fine and warm in May and June. Wet and cold in July and the beginning of August. Temperature 82 degrees, Fine harvest weather in the end and in September.
1842- Fine spring and most delicious summer. Temperature 86 degrees, Fine autumn, Harvest not abundant but excellent grain.
1843- Windy winter, Great storm 13th January. Fine wet spring and fine summer. Temperature 79 degrees, Good harvest
1844- Summer very dry. No rain in April, May and June. Temperature 80 degrees. Deficient hay harvest. Good harvest
1845- Winter long and cold, A late ungenial spring, Sun hardly ever seen during the summer. temperature 79 degrees . Harvest plentiful but in bad condition.
1846- Seasonable spring. One frosty night in May blighted the fruit trees. Three hot weeks in June afterwards wet and electrical, Temperature 87 degrees. Early corn well harvested. Much late corn injured. Potato crop destroyed. November 20th storm.
1847- Bitter spring to the end of April after a very cold winter. A very delightful summer but not hot. Temperature 78 degrees for four months averaging 70 degrees, A cold september and rainy. Potatoes and beans extensively blighted. Average harvest. Heaviest rain in December for 5 years.
1848- January 29th temperature 20 degrees. Spring and winter mild and wet. Wet summer to September. Temperature 73 degrees. August 26 days of rain then fine weather but showery during harvest. Winter mild and windy.
1849- Beautiful February. Six weeks bitter east winds to middle of May followed by night rains and hot sunny days. Temperature 76 degrees. Vegetation exuberant, Beautiful Autumn, good harvest and good apple year.
1850- A fortnights frost and then rainy. Cold east winds to middle of May, then very fine and warm. Fine good hay. Moderate heat and sunny in summer. Temperature 82 degrees. No rain of any weight for the first half of the year, Autumn showery. Harvest patchy and precarious but grains not spoiled.
1851- Very mild winter, one weeks frost. Sunny and pleasant, Wet March. Hailstones and cold in April. Beautiful summer, hay good. June 29th temperature 81 degrees. Ten cold days in July then Indian Summer to 22nd September. Harvest good, potatoes plentiful but diseased. Apples and nuts plentiful. June 29th highest temperature 81 degrees. November 29th lowest temperature 29 degrees.
1852- Mile winter, no snow or frost, Two storms in January with 53mph winds. Cold spring and east winds until Old May Day. Two months without rain, a fine summer. July 5th temperature 80 degrees, earthquake, average harvest, potatoes still diseased. Fruit not plentiful except pears. Storm 26th December 8am and again on the 27th. Wind speed 71mph and 47 days rain in November and December.
1853- An unprecedented winter for heavy rain, the railways flooded. cold up to May, fine for a month and a cold summer after. Heavy rains in July 4.145 inches and 72 degree temperature. Much hay spoiled and rainy autumn. Bad harvest- wheat 80 shillings , fruit and potatoes injured. September 25th storm winds 36.9mph . Fine November.
1854- Winter severe. Temperature 16 degrees. January 26th very stormy 43.7mph. Temperature lower than it had been for 30 years, great winds, disasters at sea , beautiful spring. Hay spoiled by rain in June, a genial summer, good harvest, potatoes good, little fruit.
1855- The severest and longest frost since 1814 and cold to the end of May. Fine summer but rains in July. Harvest good.
1856- Mild winter, seasonable spring. Rainy July afterwards splendid weather. Average harvest
1857- No frost and very windy. Fine spring, the most beautiful summer ever known and a fine autumn. Good harvest.
1858- Mild winter, a moderate summer. Average Harvest, Donati's Comet
1859- Mild winter. Fine Spring. Fine summer, a fortnight of very hot weather. A severe frost for a week in December, Temperature 17 degrees, not such a winter since 1814,1838 and 1855, Hurricane in October , Royal Charter lost
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