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‘Worcestershire’s King Canute’ self builds flood defence
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
Nick Lupton’s home had been flooded 11 times before he built his flood defence.
A Midlands homeowner built his own flood defence ahead of October’s Storm Babet – which earned him the name of ‘Worcestershire’s answer to King Canute’.
Nick Lupton and his wife Annie's converted 17th-century house had been flooded 11 times since they moved into the property in 2016.
The house is located on the banks of the River Severn, an area prone to flooding during periods of heavy rain.
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Lupton decided to self-build a defence, a common initiative in some properties in the region due to its proximity to the Severn. He built his using Stepoc, a precast concrete block retaining wall system, developed by clay and concrete building materials manufacturer Ibstock.
Lupton built most of the wall himself, working with a contractor only to lay the foundations and the first course.
Tested against extreme weather
Lupton required 110 sq mof Stepoc blocks to build his protective wall, which ranges in height from four to seven courses.
The build began in May 2023 and was completed in September, and was tested by Storm Babet just weeks later in October. In January 2024, the wall faced its greatest challenge yet when Storm Henk swept the country.
Lupton started building the flood defence in May 2023 and completed it in September.
Lupton said: “Almost as soon as the wall was finished, it was being tested by some extreme weather. The flood brought about by Storm Henk is one of the severest we’ve experienced since moving into this property, with water levels nearly exceeding the record flooding experienced in the area in 2020.
“This was a great test for the wall and, I’m happy to say, it has so far completely stood up to the challenge.”
The January/February 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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