It seemed like this might be an opportune moment to start a topic on classic snowstorms of the past. For the first two, I've gone back to the 19th century. The blizzard of 17th-21st January 1881 was for much of southern England, the south Midlands and south Wales arguably the worst during the last 150 years or more. Fortunately, buried deep in the Met Office's online archive is the issue of Symons's Monthly Meteorological Magazine for February that year, which has detailed contemporary accounts of the storm:

https://digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk/file/sdb%3AdigitalFile%7Cbee0b22e-4d58-4ba6-96a8-1a0449625f3f/

The reanalysis chart for the 18th January is here:

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/reanalysis.php?map=1&model=noaa&var=2&jaar=1881&maand=01&dag=18&uur=1200&h=0&tr=360&nmaps=24#mapref

I wouldn't put too much faith in the 850 mb temperatures, as this was I think well before the use of met balloons, or even kites, to get upper air measurements.

In south-west England the blizzard of 9th-10th March 1891 (which affected all of southern England to some degree) was even worse, especially over Dartmoor, with many trains getting trapped by impenetrable drifts. There's an excellent book called "The Blizzard of '91" by Clive Carter, which I can thoroughly recommend. It was published over forty years ago, but second-hand copies are obtainable through Amazon. Here's the relevant issue of Symons's Monthly Meteorological Magazine:

https://digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk/file/sdb%3AdigitalFile%7Ccf47df28-ca37-475f-8695-bc8241dbbcd4/

The reanalysis chart for 9th March is here:

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/reanalysis.php?map=1&model=noaa&var=2&jaar=1891&maand=03&dag=09&uur=1800&h=0&tr=360&nmaps=24#mapref

I rather suspect that it has the 0C 850mb isotherm a bit too far north.

It definitely seems too far north compared to the contemporary accounts of the conditions. Heavy snow fell and accumulated on that day right down to the southern extremities of Devon and Cornwall, and the blizzard was also raging out in the Channel.

I too have read the book that you mention, indeed reading it as a child was one of the things which really sparked my interest in the weather. A must read for all snow lovers!

Here is photo of the aftermath ths blizzard from one of the worst hit areas - Fareham.

  
picture host ru 

Sunday 13th December 1981, I think some members on here will remember this one.

The NW England storm of Jan 1940, gave Derby 450mm of snow, over a couple of days and more elsewhere.

1963 does it for me. the other notable fall since I was Out of the country. 

I remember that very well - part of a very cold December. The cold weather reastablished itsefl a few days later.

Thanks to everyone. There are a couple of snowstorms there  (1908, 1933) that I wasn't previously aware of. Some great photos too.

As for 1963, there are several snowstorms to choose from. Which one did you have in mind?