Holmfirth floods

The most severe flood occurred early on the morning of 5 February 1852, when the embankment of the Bilberry reservoir collapsed causing the deaths of 81 people.

It is recorded as the 23rd most serious, worldwide[citation needed], in terms of loss of life from floods and landslides in human history.

The 1852 flood occurred when the embankment of the Bilberry reservoir collapsed, releasing 86 million gallons of water down the River Holme.

On Whit Monday, 29 May 1944, flash flooding following a severe thunderstorm,[3] caused the deaths of three people in the Holme Valley.

Geoffrey Riley (1929–2005), who was aged 14 at the time of the event, was awarded the George Cross in recognition of his attempts to save the life of an elderly woman caught in the flood.