The snowstorm
Old people who chronicle the weather in their memory say they do not remember so heavy a fall of snow before Christmas for 54 or 55 years when in 1819 or 1820 there was a similar one on the 11th December.
The memorable snow of 1836 occurred on the night of Christmas Day, and since then the heaviest falls have happened in February. On Thursday morning last it was generally a foot deep in the fields, and snow ploughs had to be used to clear the roads. but there was little drift, and on Saturday and Sunday a gradual wasting in its bulk, but not to any great extent.
Well timed liberality
Mr Harrison of Myttens, just previous to the setting in of the present severe weather had distributed at the homes of the aged and indigent in the town, around Whiteman’s Green, several tons of coal, and been the means of warming many a hearth that would otherwise been cheerless. We hear also that the other gentry in the neighbourhood are following so good an example, but as yet have not gained the particulars.
The foot and mouth disease
This is rapidly on the increase this week, the number of cases left on the 12th inst. being 54, there having been during the week ending the 19th, 71 fresh cases; 38 have recovered, and 87 remaining, the increase being 36.
Source: Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal, Tuesday 29 December 1874
Contributed by Malcolm Davison.