July 10 1968, Bristol. Around two months of rainfall fell in less than 48 hours over the city. Roughly, 3,000 properties were flooded and eight people died as a result of the rising waters. The incident would become known as the Great Flood.
Much of the city was submerged as people came to terms with their losses and tried to pick themselves off of the damp floor. Everyday life was brought to a standstill with 24 abandoned buses dotted around the streets, no trains were able to reach Bristol for several hours as landslides and tunnel flooding prevented progress. Ashton Gate and Eastville stadiums were flooded.
In South Bristol, lower-floor residents in high-rise flats took refuge with their neighbours above them and people gradually returned to work - and some snapped pictures of the damage caused by the flood. Here are 10 pictures BristolWorld has selected documenting what it would have been like to walk the streets of South Bristol in the days after the Great Flood of 1968.
1. Marsh Road / Winterstoke Road
People wade through the knee-high waters along Marsh Road / Winterstoke Road. | Know Your Place
2. Bedminster
Bedminster Parade under water. Looking down East Street, the Barley Mow pub can be seen on the left. Many shops along the parade and East Street were flooded. The WD & HO Wills Factory, right, was brought to a standstill, with much of its stock damaged - the end section of the factory would become an ASDA superstore in 1987. | Bristol Housing Department
3. Southbow House, Ashton Gate
A milkman, wearing wellies, completes his rounds after the flooding. Southbow House was built in 1962, made up of 11 floors with 63 apartments housing elderly residents. | Bristol Housing Department
4. Bower Ashton
Bower Ashton residents hang out their windows and climb on top of stone walls to observe their flooded gardens. | Know Your Place