The Cloudburst On Friday May 17, 1918 somewhere above Ballinger, Pednor and Chartridge there was a torrential cloudburst. In a short space of time a massive amount of water fell near Chesham. In Chesham there was a rainshower and a downfall of hail. Locals carried on, unaware of the bigger surprise that was to come. The Floodwaters The water which had fallen upon the ridges ran down the hillsides to the valleys below, flooding farms and stripping fields. Water made its way over the fields and down the lanes. It carried hay ricks and sheds from one meadow to another. Cattle in lower fields were carried away and drowned.