Floods through a lens: Photographer’s arty take on chaos caused by Somerset storms

  • Matilda's grandfather, Professor Temperley, was evacuated from his house on New Year's Day due to the devastating floods. (Matilda Temperley)
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    Matilda's grandfather, Professor Temperley, was evacuated from his house on New Years Day due to the devastating floods. (Matilda Temperley)

    Matilda's grandfather, Professor Temperley, was evacuated from his house on New Year's Day due to the devastating floods. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Possessions are piled high in Professor Temperley's Somerset home as the water gets higher. (Matilda Temperley)
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    Possessions are piled high in Professor Temperley's Somerset home as the water gets higher. (Matilda Temperley)

    Possessions are piled high in Professor Temperley's Somerset home as the water gets higher. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Armchairs are almost submerged as the water reaches knee-high levels at Professor Temperley's house. (Matilda Temperley)
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    Armchairs are almost submerged as the water reaches knee-high levels at Professor Temperley's house. (Matilda Temperley)

    Armchairs are almost submerged as the water reaches knee-high levels at Professor Temperley's house. (Matilda Temperley)
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  • Matilda's grandfather has lived in his 19th century home for half his life - but had no choice but to be evacuated as floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)
    4/20

    Matilda's grandfather has lived in his 19th century home for half his life - but had no choice but to be evacuated as floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)

    Matilda's grandfather has lived in his 19th century home for half his life - but had no choice but to be evacuated as floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Rising water levels got the better of this car between Muchelney and Langport in Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
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    Rising water levels got the better of this car between Muchelney and Langport in Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)

    Rising water levels got the better of this car between Muchelney and Langport in Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Only the top few inches of this car remained visible between Muchelney and Langport as the water just kept on rising. (Matilda Temperley)
    6/20

    Only the top few inches of this car remained visible between Muchelney and Langport as the water just kept on rising. (Matilda Temperley)

    Only the top few inches of this car remained visible between Muchelney and Langport as the water just kept on rising. (Matilda Temperley)
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  • Neil Craddock surveys the barrier he erected last year to cope with floods. The flood water in this picture was thought to be more than six feet deep. (Matilda Temperley)
    7/20

    Neil Craddock surveys the barrier he erected last year to cope with floods. The flood water in this picture was thought to be more than six feet deep. (Matilda Temperley)

    Neil Craddock surveys the barrier he erected last year to cope with floods. The flood water in this picture was thought to be more than six feet deep. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Huge swathes of land are completely submerged in Muchelney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
    8/20

    Huge swathes of land are completely submerged in Muchelney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)

    Huge swathes of land are completely submerged in Muchelney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Thorney West Farm near the Somerset Levels was one of many properties surrounded by water. (Matilda Temperley)
    9/20

    Thorney West Farm near the Somerset Levels was one of many properties surrounded by water. (Matilda Temperley)

    Thorney West Farm near the Somerset Levels was one of many properties surrounded by water. (Matilda Temperley)
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  • There's no sign of the ground whatsoever in flood-ravaged Muchelney. (Matilda Temperley)
    10/20

    There's no sign of the ground whatsoever in flood-ravaged Muchelney. (Matilda Temperley)

    There's no sign of the ground whatsoever in flood-ravaged Muchelney. (Matilda Temperley)
  • A dirty line on the wall of Michael Brown's living room in Thorney shows where the flood water was at its peak. (Matilda Temperley)
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    A dirty line on the wall of Michael Brown's living room in Thorney shows where the flood water was at its peak. (Matilda Temperley)

    A dirty line on the wall of Michael Brown's living room in Thorney shows where the flood water was at its peak. (Matilda Temperley)
  • A lone walker trudges through the flood-hit Somerset Levels. (Matilda Temperley)
    12/20

    A lone walker trudges through the flood-hit Somerset Levels. (Matilda Temperley)

    A lone walker trudges through the flood-hit Somerset Levels. (Matilda Temperley)
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  • Those brave enough to venture into the water in Thorney found it up to their waist. (Matilda Temperley)
    13/20

    Those brave enough to venture into the water in Thorney found it up to their waist. (Matilda Temperley)

    Those brave enough to venture into the water in Thorney found it up to their waist. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Water levels near Muchelney, Somerset, have shown little sign of receding in recent days and weeks. (Matilda Temperley)
    14/20

    Water levels near Muchelney, Somerset, have shown little sign of receding in recent days and weeks. (Matilda Temperley)

    Water levels near Muchelney, Somerset, have shown little sign of receding in recent days and weeks. (Matilda Temperley)
  • The 2014 floods are the worst to ever hit Thorney House since it was built in 1770. (Matilda Temperley)
    15/20

    The 2014 floods are the worst to ever hit Thorney House since it was built in 1770. (Matilda Temperley)

    The 2014 floods are the worst to ever hit Thorney House since it was built in 1770. (Matilda Temperley)
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  • This flooded business in Burrowbridge was one of many which had to be abandoned. (Matilda Temperley)
    16/20

    This flooded business in Burrowbridge was one of many which had to be abandoned. (Matilda Temperley)

    This flooded business in Burrowbridge was one of many which had to be abandoned. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Race horse trainer Chris Gray had to evacuate herself, as well as her horses and family, from floods in Moorland, Burrowbridge, two weeks ago. (Matilda Temperley)
    17/20

    Race horse trainer Chris Gray had to evacuate herself, as well as her horses and family, from floods in Moorland, Burrowbridge, two weeks ago. (Matilda Temperley)

    Race horse trainer Chris Gray had to evacuate herself, as well as her horses and family, from floods in Moorland, Burrowbridge, two weeks ago. (Matilda Temperley)
  • <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Holly and Roddy Baillie-Grohman in their flooded house in Thorney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)<br></span></span>
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    Holly and Roddy Baillie-Grohman in their flooded house in Thorney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)

    Holly and Roddy Baillie-Grohman in their flooded house in Thorney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
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  • Father and son Julian and Henry Temperley (and Buddy the horse) tackle the high waters. (Matilda Temperley)
    19/20

    Father and son Julian and Henry Temperley (and Buddy the horse) tackle the high waters. (Matilda Temperley)

    Father and son Julian and Henry Temperley (and Buddy the horse) tackle the high waters. (Matilda Temperley)
  • Farmer James Winslade, from Moorland, Somerset, stands by last summer's silage bales after the floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)
    20/20

    Farmer James Winslade, from Moorland, Somerset, stands by last summer's silage bales after the floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)

    Farmer James Winslade, from Moorland, Somerset, stands by last summer's silage bales after the floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)
Matilda's grandfather, Professor Temperley, was evacuated from his house on New Year's Day due to the devastating floods. (Matilda Temperley)
Possessions are piled high in Professor Temperley's Somerset home as the water gets higher. (Matilda Temperley)
Armchairs are almost submerged as the water reaches knee-high levels at Professor Temperley's house. (Matilda Temperley)
Matilda's grandfather has lived in his 19th century home for half his life - but had no choice but to be evacuated as floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)
Rising water levels got the better of this car between Muchelney and Langport in Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
Only the top few inches of this car remained visible between Muchelney and Langport as the water just kept on rising. (Matilda Temperley)
Neil Craddock surveys the barrier he erected last year to cope with floods. The flood water in this picture was thought to be more than six feet deep. (Matilda Temperley)
Huge swathes of land are completely submerged in Muchelney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)
Thorney West Farm near the Somerset Levels was one of many properties surrounded by water. (Matilda Temperley)
There's no sign of the ground whatsoever in flood-ravaged Muchelney. (Matilda Temperley)
A dirty line on the wall of Michael Brown's living room in Thorney shows where the flood water was at its peak. (Matilda Temperley)
A lone walker trudges through the flood-hit Somerset Levels. (Matilda Temperley)
Those brave enough to venture into the water in Thorney found it up to their waist. (Matilda Temperley)
Water levels near Muchelney, Somerset, have shown little sign of receding in recent days and weeks. (Matilda Temperley)
The 2014 floods are the worst to ever hit Thorney House since it was built in 1770. (Matilda Temperley)
This flooded business in Burrowbridge was one of many which had to be abandoned. (Matilda Temperley)
Race horse trainer Chris Gray had to evacuate herself, as well as her horses and family, from floods in Moorland, Burrowbridge, two weeks ago. (Matilda Temperley)
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Holly and Roddy Baillie-Grohman in their flooded house in Thorney, Somerset. (Matilda Temperley)<br></span></span>
Father and son Julian and Henry Temperley (and Buddy the horse) tackle the high waters. (Matilda Temperley)
Farmer James Winslade, from Moorland, Somerset, stands by last summer's silage bales after the floods hit. (Matilda Temperley)

Matilda Temperley captured the devastation around rural Somerset as the recent floods ruined homes and businesses.
Her poignant images show submerged cars, flooded homes (including her grandfather’s) and the general chaos around the area known as the ‘Somerset Levels’.
The stark pictures focus on the rural areas of Muchelney, Burrowbridge and Thorney, which were among the worst-hit by the flooding.
You can see more of Matilda's work here

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