London tornado of 1091 facts for kids

Imagine a powerful whirlwind tearing through a city! That's what happened in London way back in 1091. The London Tornado of 1091 is the very first tornado ever recorded in England. It struck on a Friday, October 17, 1091, causing a lot of damage. Experts today think it might have been one of the strongest tornadoes ever in the British Isles.

The London Tornado of 1091

A tornado is a spinning column of air that stretches from a thunderstorm down to the ground. It can be incredibly powerful, strong enough to lift cars or even destroy buildings. The London Tornado of 1091 was a rare and terrifying event for the people living in London at that time.

What Happened on That Day?

On that fateful Friday, October 17, 1091, a massive tornado swept through the City of London. This was a time when most buildings were made of wood, making them very vulnerable to strong winds. The tornado caused widespread destruction, leaving many people without homes.

How Powerful Was This Tornado?

Modern experts have tried to figure out how strong this ancient tornado was. They believe it might have been a T8 on the TORRO scale. This is similar to an F4 on the Fujita scale. To give you an idea, an F4 tornado is incredibly powerful. It can cause devastating damage, like ripping roofs off well-built houses and throwing cars. If this estimate is correct, it makes the 1091 London tornado one of the strongest ever recorded in Britain. However, it's important to remember that these estimates are based on reports written about 30 years after the tornado happened.

The Damage It Caused

The tornado left a path of destruction across London. One of the most famous examples of the damage was to the church of St Mary-le-Bow. This church in the heart of London was badly damaged. Four large wooden beams, each about 26 feet (8 meters) long, were ripped from the church. They were driven so hard into the ground that only about 4 feet (1.2 meters) of them were left sticking out!

Many other churches in the area were also destroyed. More than 600 houses were demolished, most of which were made of wood. Despite all this destruction, only two people are known to have died. This is quite remarkable, considering London had a population of about 18,000 people at the time.

Stories from the Past

We know about this tornado because it was written down in old books called chronicles. Two famous writers, Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury, mentioned it. William of Malmesbury described the tornado as "a great spectacle for those watching from afar." But he also said it was "a terrifying experience for those standing near." These accounts help us understand how people in the past viewed such a powerful natural event.

See also

• Tornado records
• 2006 London tornado