Stafford Storm

June 19th 1861 and, in true British summer tradition, a huge thunderstorm raged over and around Stafford. At Aston Hall a "very valuable" horse belonging to Mr Lindop was, as the local press termed it, "killed by the electric fluid". The horse had been left out to graze in the field and, when the owners went to check on their animal, found the creature to be "complete jelly from the violence of the shock".

Note the press took pains to point out the owner was insured against such losses and the Norwich Union Fire Office promptly reimbursed him for his loss".