ImagesBrighton pictures of the week 21-2-2005

IMAGESBRIGHTON photography by david gray
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This winter has seen little rain in Southern England and the water companies are forecasting hosepipe bans for the summer. Four years ago, however, the ground was saturated after autumn downpours in 2000. This week's pictures remember the Lewes floods in October of that year, when the river Ouse burst its banks and left much of the historic East Sussex town under several feet of very dirty water. Over 800 properties had to be evacuated, including the splendid old Harveys Brewery. It didn't help that there had been considerable new building on the flood plain and the arguments over insurance compensation went on for a long time afterwards. Harveys, however, was back in business within weeks and brewed a special strong beer called Ouse Booze to commemorate the flood. That's all been drunk by now, but the river's still there and the rain, sooner or later, will come again.

A woman looks out of the window of her flooded home (image 1804-9)

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