THUNDER STORM. — This locality was visited with one of the most violent storms ever experienced here, on Wednesday morning last. It commenced about three o'clock, and continued with unabated violence for upwards of two hours. The lightning was of the most vivid hues, while the thunder pealed forth in awful grandeur. The rain also descended during the continuance of the storm in rapid and deluging torrents. The electric fluid entered a house in Mount Pleasant, Landport, and descending the chimney forced the mantel-piece to the opposite window, and destroyed a valuable chimney-glass. It also destroyed thirteen panes of glass in the same house. ln another instance, it entered a house near Kingston, in a similar manner, but the damage done was trifling. The injury done to the crops in the neighbourhood is very serious. On the following morning (Thursday), about the same hour, the town was again visited with a storm, but less severe than the preceding. At Gosport, during the storm on Saturday morning last, between one and two o'clock, a body of fire, of an opaque form, fell in the road close by the Bridewell, where it burst, without doing any damage ; it was accompanied by a very vivid flash of blue lightning and a tremendous clap of thunder. At about half- past six o'clock on the same morning three of the posts, through which the wires of the electric telegraph pass, at Fontley Viaduct, were thrown down by the lightning, and completely shivered to atoms. Communication between the Gosport and Southampton and Nine Elms termini was consequently stopped, but resumed again on Tuesday morning last ; the damage having in the meantime been repaired.
At Petersfield, on Monday last, a barn belonging to Mr. Charles Harris, of Durford House, was struck by the electric fluid and burned to the ground. Fortunately no corn had been housed in it. The Rogate postman, who was within about 100 yards of the spot at the time, was also struck down and stunned, but not injured.
Hampshire Independent - Saturday 8 August 1846
PETERSFIELD.]—During the past week this town and neighbourhood have been visited with a continuation of heavy storms of rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning of a most awful and alarming kind. On Monday morning, the electric fluid struck a barn partly filled with straw, which was insured; also a cattle range adjoining, the property of the Hon. and Rev. H. Legge, in the occupation of Mr. Charles Harris, of Durford farm, in the parish of Rogate, which was quickly consumed. On Wednesday, a fine oak tree, standing on Minsted Farm, the property of Colonel Hugonin, was also struck by the electric fluid, and shivered almost to pieces.