Observations upon the Climate of Uckfield

Abstract

WE opened this work expecting to find in it a mere record of the barometric and thermometric observations taken by an assiduous observer for twenty-seven years. It is this, however, and much more; and Mr. Prince must be congratulated upon having written a very interesting and readable book upon what we fear would, in the hands of most men, be a very dry subject. The observations he has collected show what valuable information might be stored up by many country surgeons, clergymen, and farmers, at little cost of time or money, by adopting a regular system. The parish of Uckfield, Mr. Prince tells us, lies upon an undulatory tract of country situated about midway between the South Downs and the highest point of Ashdown Forest. The upper portion of the town is 200 feet, and the lower 66 feet, above the level of the sea. It is situated on the Horsted beds of the Hastings Sands. The instruments were read every morning at nine o'clock. The annual mean height of the barometer at Uckfield, as deduced from observations extending over seventeen years, was 29.982 in. Mr. Prince gives the mean temperature of winter at Uckfield from all his observations at 38°.96 Fahr.; of spring at 47°.66; of summer at 61°.34, and of autumn at 50°.45. The coldest winter was that of 1845; the warmest that of 1869; the difference being 10°.99. The coldest spring was that of 1845; the warmest that of 1848; the difference, 5°.84. The coldest summer was that of 1860; the warmest that of 1859; the difference being 6°.74. The coldest autumn was that of 1867; the warmest that of 1857; the difference being 6°.22.

Observations upon the Climate of Uckfield.

A Meteorological Record for the district from 1843 to 1870, &c.By C. Leeson Prince. (London: Churchill, 1871.)