THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1877

House on Burnside

Although the flood of 1877 had spectacular effects in Dollar, its main brunt was felt in Tillicoultry. On the morning of 28th August after a few days of only light showers a torrent up to four feet deep flowed eastward along Tillicoultry Main Street and the millworkers going home for breakfast could hardly cross. Tillicoultry Burn came raging down in a wall of water some seven or eight feet high, carrying everything before it, and causing great destruction to mills, houses and shops throughout the village. Two people were drowned in the floodwaters, one later found further downstream, the other much further down the Devon.

In Dollar after 7.30 a.m. it suddenly became very dark, and torrential rain fell for about an hour. The burn was like a river and there was a low rumbling sound in the distance. On the Mill Green, the bridges and trees were hurtling past and boulders were being tossed around like toys. On the Burnside the flood was tearing away the banking and the road, and shortly after, when the garden walls fell, the occupants took fright and fled. A few minutes later the top section of the front of the first house fell outward across the raging flood, soon followed by the second, third, and fourth. In the ruined houses the tables laid for breakfast could be seen, but much furniture – tables, chairs, and sofas had been swept downstream. Although all the stone bridges were in danger they stood up well, but the railway bridge was completely wrecked and choked with trees and boulders, a considerable amount of the floodwater being diverted along the railway which took a considerable time to clear.