Page 354
1. That the Bank called Turks banke, containing in compasse about xv miles, will be a great hinderance to the fall of many waters, flowing to∣wards the Sea through the Isle of Ely, it being planted between the two most natural Drayns on that side the Isle, at the meeting of many waters, flowing out of Neene, Ouse, and other streams, falling by Dodington and March &c. and so turneth them unto the other side of the said Isle, towards Litleport, and the Countries therea∣bouts; where, falling into the Ouse, they stop the waters naturally flowing into those quarters from that ordinary Drayn &c. Whereupon complaint be∣ing made unto Mr. Justice Gawdy and other Commissioners of Sewers, sitting at Sechie in Com. Norff. xi of April last past, it was by them or∣dered;
- 1. That the said Turks banke should be presently cut.
- 2. That Small lode, London lode, and Mayd lode be sufficiently scoured by the Inhabitants of Welle and the Londoners.
- 3. That Mayd lode be made xxx foot wide; at the mouth xxv, and xx foot at the Slu••e, with Sluses to carry it; and five foot in depth; and so to be maintained by the Londoners, as need shall require.
Whereupon on May day following, the said Bank was cut in many places, by reason whereof the water ran so for∣cibly through the said Cuts, that for the space of x or xii days after it suck∣ed in divers Boats and Vessels passing that way.
And it was farther presented, that a little without the upper end of this Bank, there hath been a Crest, for peo∣ple to travel on, from Welney, to Welle, in the Summer time when the waters are down: for which cause the said Church-path being about fifty years past made of more strength and height, than in former times, by one Mr. Beaupre; the same was, not long after, cut down in many places, by the expresse command of Bishop Goodrick, then Lord Chancellour of England, and Bishop of Ely.
In 44 Eliz. there was an Agreement, bearing date the xx of March, made by Indenture, between Sir Iohn Peyton K••. Dame Dorothy his wife, and Edmund Bell Esquire, then owners of the Man∣nour of Upwell, Iohn Richardson and divers others who were at that time the major part of the Commoners and Inhabitants of Upwell aforesaid; and Iohn Watts Citizen and Alderman of London, Sir William Cokain of London Skinner, and others, for the drayning of divers Fenny VVasts and Commo••s, containing about three thousand acres, lying in Upwell, between a certain Drayn called London lode towards the North, Maiden lode and Ship lode towards the South, and towards the VVest adjoyning to and upon the Causey-bank extending from London lode to Welney; and towards the East upon Denver Common; for drayning and maintaining whereof they were to have conveyed unto them, their heirs and assigns, one full moytie of the said wasts: Whereupon with the expence of great sums of money they did accomplish the work, and accor∣dingly had the said moytie thereof set out for them; which they enjoyed for divers years, till about the latter end of King Iames his Reign, that the Fen-waters broke their Banks and drowned all again: the Country people then turning the Adventurers out of their possessions; which they kept, till Francis late Earl of Bedford be••ame the principal undertaker for draining of the whole great Levell, and did per∣form the work. But afterwards his said drayning meeting with some disasters, the whole Levell became totally sur∣rounded again, and so continued untill William Earl of Bedford and his Parti∣cipants, did in the year 1649. under∣take to drayn it anew; which in four years time he perfected (as I have els∣where more fully shewed) VVhere∣upon Sir Iohn Watts Knight, and some others, who claimed under the first un∣dertakers before-mentioned, were re∣stored to the possession thereof.