 In the 20th century , Chew Stoke expanded slightly with the influx of residents from the Chew Valley Lake area . These new residents were moved to Chew Stoke when the lake was created in the 1950s . In World War II , 42 children and three teachers , who had been evacuated from Avenmore school in London , were accommodated in the village . On 10 July 1968 , torrential rainfall , with 175 millimetres ( 7 in ) falling in 18 hours on Chew Stoke , double the area 's average rainfall for the whole of July , led to widespread flooding in the Chew Valley , and water reached the first floor of many buildings . The damage in Chew Stoke was not as severe as in some of the surrounding villages , such as Pensford ; however , fears that the Chew Valley Lake dam would be breached caused considerable anxiety . 
