I have often scoffed at people who build or live in houses located in a flood plain (or at least a place prone to occasional floods — not the same thing). But here’s a story of a guy who did:
Nick Lupton, 60, and his wife Anne, 50, live in a converted 17th century house on the banks of the River Severn. Since they moved into the four-bedroom detached property in Pixham, Worcestershire in 2016, the house and one-acre of land has been flooded 11 times.
But instead of weeping and wailing when his house was repeatedly underwater, he said, “Fuck this!” and did something about it.
The couple became so fed up with the costly clear-ups, they decided to surround the entire property with a 7ft-high flood defence. They spent four months constructing the brick barrier before finally finishing it last October – just weeks before Storm Henk swept Britain.
Here’s before:
And after:
The house itself? Dry as a bone. Read the whole story; it’s excellent. With more people like this, the Brits would still have an empire.
Of course, this being Britishland, when the flood waters go down the local council will doubtless tell him to tear the wall down because it ruins the character of the 17th-century house, or something.
But let me not be so cynical.
Flood plains.
Almost all of my work for the past 30+ years has been on the barrier islands off the southwest coast of Florida. The design and construction keeps getting stronger and better all the time. In 2006, after hurricane Charley, State Farm paid the largest residential loss claim in history – $4.5 mil. which was located on Useppa Island. The homeowner hired me to do the forensics on the old, and the design of the new home that would replace it. It’s 17 years later and that home is still standing.
My wife grew up in Ft.Myers. We once did a tour out of South Captiva that included stops on Cabbage Key and Useppa. We found Useppa to be a weird, slightly creepy place, with all the shuttered, multi-million dollar homes.
That Brit is definitely the captain of his ship, even if immobile. Well done indeed and it looks nice IMHO.
Smart move. therefore, you’re absolutely right that the local council will demand the walls be taken down. How do these assclowns get onto these local councils? How come they aren’t removed by the subjects?
JQ
could you imagine the epidemic of the vapors that folks in England would get if someone built a Killdozer there and used it?
JQ
They have inflatable flood barriers available now. I’ve seen pics from houses in hurricane prone areas that are high and dry like that without the expensive and permanent wall. I’ve even thought about that myself. Given the history of my property, I’d only need a 1 ft tube surrounding my house to survive the worst flooding Houston area has ever seen.
I would imagine the next thing on his list is a heli-pad for access when the roads are underwater.
Of course, for the local autocrats, a couple mini-gun installations would be appropriate.
Well done them! If you read the article the wall really does look terrible. By the looks of it it’s plain breeze-block. But all it requires is time: give it 10 years or so and it will be covered in foliage.