Do you remember the Big Freeze of 1963?

We may have seen a few flurries of snow recently but many, no doubt, can cast their mind back to the winter of 1963-64 when it was a very different picture!

The Big Freeze, as it was called back then, started on Boxing Day 1962 and carried on until well into March 1963.

Snow lay on the ground for around 60 days and temperatures barely rose above freezing.

Nearly a foot of snow fell in Horsham at the start, ‘almost paralysing’ the area according to local reports (as seen in our slideshow from the Museum archives). There were many road accidents but thankfully no serious injuries.

Country roads were blocked and several drivers had to abandon their vehicles. On the railway it took one train nearly two hours to travel from Southwater to Horsham at which point passengers gave up hope of getting any further and looked for alternative means of transport. Of course, just a few years later the Southwater station would be shut as part of the Beeching cuts.

The outlying areas of Horsham were cut off and some people attempted to walk in or catch a lift, only to end up helping push vehicles as they got stuck in the snow.

As it was the holiday period it proved difficult to find contractors to clear the roads and paths.

However, it wasn’t all bad news as many children made their way to nearby Denne Hill for tobogganing and general fun.

As the arctic conditions continued, the local council came under fire for the apparent lack of work clearing the town’s roads and pavements, compared with other towns.

After the Boxing Day drifts there was a ‘blizzard’ on December 29 and by early January 1963 around 20 inches of snow were recorded as falling since the start.

There were food shortages early on and the price of vegetables rose due to their scarcity. Coal was available but it was difficult to get deliveries out.

The Horsham fire brigade were called out as the weight of snow caused tiles and guttering to fall off roofs.

The freezing weather meant that most outdoor sport was cancelled for several weeks.

Snow did fall the following year, but lessons had been learned and snow ploughs and gritters were fully utilised to lessen the impact this time!