With the quite shocking weather and storm damage of late, we thought we would remind everyone of the cyclone that brought huge damage to parts of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge in 1913.

On the evening of 27 October 1913, areas of Peckforton, Stonehouse Lane and the immediate area were battered by the freak 'Peckforton Cyclone'.

According to a contemporary eyewitness, a dark column of spinning air approached from the south, accompanied by thunder, lightning and torrential rain. During four violent hours, Castlegate Farm, below Beeston Castle, lost its roof, hundreds of mature trees were uprooted, several cattle killed, and a local man hurled sixty metres into his neighbour's orchard.

Photographs/Postcards such as this to the right, provide a fascinating insight into the social and economic history of an area – click on image to enlarge.

We are always on the look out for old images of the Ridge and we also learned most recently that most of Lord Tollemache's glasshouses at Peckforton Castle were also destroyed during this event as well as his model poultry farm which was 'carried away'.

Thanks to Northern Eye Books who have given permission to reproduce this on our platform.