There had been a wet summer,
followed by a short dry sunny spell when suddenly without warning on
the 28th August 1877 there was an incredibly heavy downpour of rain
and the burn through the Glen became a raging torrent with a wall of
water 7 to 8 feet(2 - 3metres) high sweeping down off the hill and
causing immense damage to the Burnside area of Tillicoultry. Upper
Mill Street had a large portion completely scooped out, with pavements
lifted and houses wrecked. Frederick Street and Stirling Street were
also both affected by the gushing water. Before breakfast time water,
some 3 feet(1 metre) deep swept down the High Street flooding into
shops and houses.
The
Glen Burn flowing calmly
The most tragic effect of
the flood was the loss of mill owner, William Hutchison and factory
girl, Isabella Miller who were standing on a bridge over the burn connecting
the 2 parts of Castle Mill, Upper Burnside when the waters came gushing
down. Both were engulfed by the water and swept to their deaths. Mr
Hutchison's body was found at 2pm that day at the Oak Mill on the Lower
Burnside but Isabella's body was not recovered until 1st September
at Glenfoot where the burn joins the River Devon.
After the waters calmed there
were huge boulders from the hills filling the burn and overspilling
on to the streets which were also covered in debris - trees, sludge
and slime. Gas and water pipes were destroyed and there were no gas
or water services for a week afterwards
The bill to repair the damage
to the streets and burn came to just over £2000, a colossal amount
of money then.
