11 AUGUST 1979, Page 13

A hundred years ago

The thunder-storm of last Saturday night, or rather Sunday morning, was one of the most severe and the most universal ever known in England. But, fortunately, the most destructive part of it the hail-storm was not universal, or we should have hardly a glass roof left in the country. In many neighbourhoods and perhaps Twickenham may be regarded as the centre of the greatest destruction -you see every pane in every conservatory shattered to pieces. The Orleans Club alone is said to have lost £1,000 in glass and fruit. The poorer gardeners are almost ruined by the destruction of their glass houses, and a subscription is being raised for some of them in the neighbourhood of Richmond and Twickenham. The hail with which Moses alarmed Pharaoh so much, can hardly have been more violent. Assuredly, 'there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous.'