The Great Floods
The river Granta, a tributary of the Cam meanders north west
for three miles through the parish cutting much of it in two.
Today it is a small stream but in the past it must have been
a real barrier because the steep banks show that it was deep
and at times fast moving. It was used for boating and bathing
within living memory. It was also very prone to flooding because
the land on both sides rises gently to about 300 feet at the
boundaries of the parish and the river drains the whole area.
Even today after extensive control work in recent years the
stream becomes a torrent after protracted rainfall and some
of the lower land can still be very wet in the winter season.
In the past the river in meadowland must have been often under
water and no doubt this is why it was usually common land.
In 1779 it is recorded that the land along the river at the
end of Meadow Lane by the Dog & Duck was called Noah’s
Flood field.
During the last century the lower part of the village, by
the Dog & Duck flooded approximately every ten years.
In 1968, there was one major flood disaster, known locally
as the ‘great flood of Linton’. Following this
disaster the river was widened to allow greater water volume.
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