In spite of the advances in runoff modelling and the collection of riverflow records over several decades, estimates of very rare (>200 years) flood events remain very uncertain. The uncertainty can be reduced by the use of historic flood records. These are gathered from newspaper reports, photographs, and other accounts which allow the estimation of the peak discharge and sometimes the volume of floodwater. At three sites in the UK (Brue, Avon, and Till river catchments) the estimates of extreme floods based on historic records exceed those from short term records and the results from the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH). The results will be useful for engineers planning flood control schemes, and in estimating spillway design floods.
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