The period 1st-17th Septemper 1898 was unusually hot and dry with record breaking maxima. The CET up to the 17th of September was a remarkable 17.8
Record maxima for these dates
7th: 33.4C (92F) Norwood
9th: 32.2C (90F) Geldeston
17th: 31.9C (89.5F) Cambridge

Some reports

Tenterden: There were 9 days with max. temp above 80F; sunshine: 234hrs
Kensington: An extraordinary month of heat.
Haslemere: Mean max temp of seven consecutive days with 81F. Min temp on 6th was 61F
Cranleigh Common: Max temp of 81F on 7th and 8th. 70F an above on 13 days
Hartley Wintney: Mean temp: 75.6F Mean min: 55.5F 89.0F on the 8th
Addington: 7 consecutive days with temp of 80F and above (3rd to 9th); 4 consecutive days with 80F and above (14th-17th)
Bournemouth: 70F an above on 16 days
Oxford: Max above 80F on 6 days
Hodsock Priory: 85.8F on 17th
Manchester: 85.0F on the 5th and 7th
Edinburgh: 63.3F was the mean temp for period 2nd to 17th. 82.8F on the 5th, 62.0F on the 3rd as min.

This year part of the Leeds-Liverpool canal had to to be close because of low water levels.

Back in September 1898, part of the Grand Junction Canal was having problems with low water levels and traffic had to be suspended. In those days, it was serious as so much cargo was carried via canals.

Trees were suffering the drought conditions in Windsor forest. A Royal Lodge at Queen Anne's Gate had to be shored up to prevent it from collapsing due to ground shrinkage.

September 1898 was very active solar wise with a large sunspot and this produced a magnificent aurora on the evening of the 9th.
Here's a summary by James Wood of Ilfracombe

8.25pm: Strong patches of white light noticed due north
8.30pm: The patches widened out and formed an arc.
8.35pm: Streames began to shoot upwards.
8.40pm: The streamers became slightly pink
8.55pm: A brilliant pink and broad streamer from the extreme west of the arc assumedand retained for several minutes the form of a fluted spiral column.
9.15pm: Two strong flickers of light like sheet lightning were succeeded by the fading out of all streamers and a diminution of the arc light, but the aurora did not entirely disappear for some hours. At 10 o'clock it looked like luminous haze or cloud over the water.
From Henry Southall of Ross-on-Wye
"It was preceded by a magnificent sunset, the sky carmine to the zenith and fine masses of clouds to the eastward being illuminated with a pink light similiar to that of snowy Alpine peaks, changing later to a deep copper shade.
At 9pm, a large arch was seen spanning the northern horizon, a little to the west of north and at an altitude of 20 degrees. The centre was dark and apparent transparent. Streamers were continually shooting upwards for fully 60 degrees in height.
The light given out was equal to that of a full moon and was generally white although with a tint of red occasionally. After midnight the exhibition gradually died away."

The overall CET for September 1898 was 15.2C - Must have been cool in the last week of the month.