April 22, 1884 Earthquake: Colchester, England, United Kingdom
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Colchester, England, United Kingdom on April 22, 1884 at 09:18 UTC, 3 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- April 22, 1884
- Time
- 09:18 UTC
- Place
- Colchester, England, United Kingdom
- Magnitude
- 4.6 (ML)
- Focal depth
- 3 km (2 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 51.820° N, 0.900° E
- Country
- United Kingdom
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses damaged
- Some (about 51 to 100)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
The Colchester earthquake of 1884, with a magnitude of 4.6 ML, was the most damaging earthquake in the UK for several centuries. There was considerable damage to churches, including the top of a spire falling, falling masonry from roofs, falling turrets and parapets. The maximum intensity in the epicentral area was 8 EMS. Damage to residential properties included shattering of brick walls, and chimney falls, often through roofs. (reference #14327)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1884The 1800sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10981.