The history of imbanking and drayning of divers fenns and marshes, both in forein parts and in this kingdom, and of the improvements thereby extracted from records, manuscripts, and other authentick testimonies / by William Dugdale.

g 1.1The true content or number of Acres in the Fenns described in the general Plot, lying without the Fen-dikes, as it was delivered by William Hayward Gent. Surveyor, upon his Oath at Wisbeche 13 Iuly 1605.

Acres.

BUrrough-soke great Fen, with some severals by Catts-water

* 1.28015

Burrough little Fen.

900

Croyland Fenns, in three pieces

2000

Certain several Fens and wet Meadows, lying in Ely, between Borrough- Little fen, Borrough great Fen, and Catts water

763

Thorney grounds, containing in all 15850, whereof in hard land 400 Acres; in Fenn

15450

UUisbeche Hundred high Fen, with Sutton Fen and Throkenholt severals

8365

Ladwers, Ixwell-moore, the Rivers &c. and other severals betwen Cold∣ham bank, Bishop's dike, the division of March, UUelney-River, and Darcey-lode

0740

UUittlesey and Stanground Common Fenns, with divers severals and half severals between the old Ea and Thorney bounds, the division of UUisbeche high Fenns and Dodington fenns; and from that division by the High stream and Ramsey-mere to Knuts delph, and by that Delph up to Horsey brigg (in which bound Ramsey hath a part of a Fen, next to Ramsey mere) containing 2800 Acres

24435

Other Fens between the said Delph, the high stream, Ubmere, UUittlesey mere, and so by Conquest lode to Pocket-holme, and the high Land

7390

Certain Fens in Huntingdonshire, between the high land skirts, and Ram∣sey-Hards, and Mere; and the said high stream and Conquest lode

13455

Other Fenns of Huntindonshire, lying between Ramsey Mere, the high stream to Benwick, the West-water to Erith brigge, and the skirts of the high land, between the said Bridg and Ramsey Hards

13340

The Fenns of Dodington cum membris, Common and several

32000

Hony Fens, in all 370. viz. Hard land 90. Fen

280

Chateryz Fens, together with certain Fens of Sutton and Byall fen, with some severals lying between the bounds of Dodington and Hony, the West-water, Sutton lode, and Oxwillow lode

20700

Sutton Fens on the South of Sutton lode, between the West-water, Had∣denham fens, and the Hardes of Haddenham, Sutton, and Mephall

2910

Haddenham fens, between the former Fens, the River of Ouse, Wilber∣ton fens, and Haddenham hards

3870

Willingham fens, on the South of the Ouse, on the West of Aldrey-Cau∣sey, besides Hempsall on the East thereof

2920

Wilberton Fens, with part of other Fens between the Ouse and Hard land, to Ely bridge

2790

Grunty-fen, encompasseth with the high lands

1694

A Fen more North, between Sutton lode, by Coveney and the hard land of divers Towns compassing it

3780

Downham Wodfen, and other Fens between the Fens of Litle port, the Ouse, and Ely hard-lands, to the Town

2440

The Fens of Littleport on both sides of the Ouse, Common and several

12660

Westmore, South of Darcey-lode, and West of Welney River, together with divers severals

15360

Certain Fen grounds, Common and several, between Welney River, and the Causey dike in Upwell

1105

Certain Fens, Common and several, between Welney River, Maid lode, the Ouse and Litleport grounds

8600

Part of Wisbeche high Fen, lying in Waltersey, with divers severals

4320

Marshland-fen, and many other grounds between Maid lode and Spal∣ding River, the Fen banks, and Sea banks, which will be made dry by the general drayning

4220

Acres.

The Fens between Helgay brigg and Stoke brigg, by the River on the South-east; the high lands of Stoke, Wretton, Wereham, D••reham and Wroxham on the North; and the grounds of Edmund Skipwith Gent. on the West

2900

The Fens between the high grounds of Hocwold, Wilton, Feltwell, Methwold and Northwold high lands, on the East; Soke River on the North; the imbanked grounds of Helgay, Modney, Sot••erey, and in part the River of Ouse on the West, and Brandon River, from Preist houses to Brandon brigg

23290

The Fens between Brandon River, on the North the River of Ouse, in part; and Whelpmore and Burt fen on the West; Mildenhall high land and River on the South; and the high lands from Mildenhall to Brandon

22120

Between Mildenhall River, on the North east Ouse, from Prickwillow to Ely brigg on the North West Stuntney and Soham Causey, the high ground of Stuntney, Noruey, Soham, Isleham and Worlington on the South, and East, contain

11780

Between the said Causey and the high lands of Stuntney, on the North Ouse and Grant, from Ely brigg by Up-were on the West, Wickynhie grounds on the South, and of Soham East

4297

The Fens and low grounds between Grant from Upwere to Clay hithe and Horningsey high grounds, on the West the way from Quoy to Eam∣bridge, and Quoy and Bottesham high grounds on the South•• the two Swafhams, Reach, Burwell, Lanward and Fordham, on the East; and of Soham and Wickin North

11950

The Fens between the high grounds of Teversham and Hinton West; of Fulburne South; of great and little Wilbram East; of Bottesham and Quoy, North

1240

Between Grant from Harrymere to Ditton, on the East of Ouse; from Harrymere to Aldrich bridg on the North; Hempsall, Yram and the high grounds of Rampton, West; and the high grounds of Cottenham and Denney Abby South

9480

Hempsall and Ireham, East of Aldrich Causey

823

The low grounds from S^t. Ives to Erith bridge on the South; the Fens of Willingham and Over on the East; the high grounds of Swasey, Drayton, and Stanton on the South, and the high grounds of S^t. Ives West

3529

The low grounds below S^t. Ives, on the North side of Ouse, between the said River on the South and East, and the high land of Bluntesham, Hally∣well and S^t. Ives on the North and West

1871

The total sum 307242 Acres.

Whereupon the said Commissio∣ners sitting h 1.3 at Wisebeche aforesaid, upon the day and year aforesaid (the Lord Chief-Justice Popham being then and there present) made certain Laws i 1.4 and Ordinances, the extract whereof is, as followeth.

Ordered, first, that Sir Iohn Popham Knight Lord Chief Justice of Eng∣land, Sir Thomas Fleming Knight Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Sir William Rumney Knight Alderman of London, and Iohn Eldred Citizen and Cloth-worker of London, their heirs and as∣signs, shall within the space of 7 years, next coming, at their own proper costs and charges, drayn all the Fens and sur∣rounded grounds, between the old course of the River of Ouse as it now runneth from Erith bridg to Salters lode, and Deping; and within the land Eas hereafter mentioned: And convey the said River of Ouse, or the greatest part thereof, from some place at or neer Erith bridg aforesaid, unto such place between Salters lode and Mayden lode, as the

said Undertakers &c. shall think meet.

Which conveyance to be made be∣tween the bottom of the two uttermost Banks 30 pole at the least, and the Ri∣vers to be 30 foot wide and 8 foot deep: And the same utmost Banks, to be each of them 30 foot wide at the bottome, and 7 foot in height at the least; and if that height will not do, to carry away the water &c. then to raise them higher.

That the like passage be made at the entrance of the Fens neer Peterbo∣rough, for the conveyance of the River Nene from thence to Wis∣beche.

And so likewise for the River of Weland, from its entrance into the Fens at Waldram Hall, untill it meet with Glen.

That Land-Eas from Erith to Stanground, and thence to Wal∣dram hall be made, to defend the grounds within them, and between the said new passage of Ouse and We∣land from the Land flouds falling from the Upland-Countreys: which Land eas to be from the utmost part of the Fence dike 6 pole at least.

That a drayn be made from Salters lode unto the Ham in March River, to carry away the water which shall fall into the same Land eas &c.

That a new Bank be made from Erith bridg to Ely, to defend the grounds between that and the same new passages from the overflowing of Ouse: As also other necessary Sluses and Drayns, within the precincts be∣fore-mentioned, with Bridges &c. for passage &c.

That the Undertakers shall have such sums of money as the Commissioners at their Session shall think fit, from those persons who shall take benefit by this drayning, and not contribute part of their Lands towards the charge thereof.

That the Undertakers shall allow for the drayn at Clows Crosse in ease of this charge to the Coun∣trey.

That a Navigable Sluse be made at Salters lode. And that Well-Creeke shall be inlarged and diked to London lode; and thence through Neatmore to Wadingstowe; and thence over the River of Wellenhee, as directly as may be, unto or above the Ham in March River. And a Sluse, with a bridg to be made at Wa∣dingstow, to keep so much of the River Neene, as shall be needfull, in its old course through both the Towns of Welle.

In recompence of which perfor∣mance, the said Undertakers to have one hundred and thirty thousand A∣cres, of statute measure, of Fen grounds (at fivescore to the hundred) to be ta∣ken out of the worst sort of every par∣ticular Fen proportionably, by the Commissioners, before the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady next coming, the whole number of surroun∣ded Acres being 307242.

And that the Undertakers, their heirs &c. shall enjoy all the said waters, Fish∣ings and Banks, of and within the Ri∣vers, with the Indikes, and Land-Eas; and liberty to take sufficient menure for the repairing of the said Banks &c. which Rivers, Banks, Indikes &c. to be accounted parcell of the said 130000 Acres so assigned to them.

And that the said Undertakers shall make good all drowned parcells out of their own proportions, or in value, in case the drayning be not made perfect to the Land-owners.

Of which quick dispatch his Majesty being advertised, he wrote to them, a∣gain, from Theobalds, upon the xxiii ^th. of the same Month of Iuly: by which Letters k 1.5 he commended their endea∣vours in the work,* 1.6 and progress made therein: and, taking notice of some opposition, which had been made by certain people thereto, not knowing out of what spirit it proceeded, desired them to take special care to suppress the spreading of all false rumours, that might give distast to the Countrey, touching their proceedings therein, and with those who were then imployed by his Majesty in that service, as also to examine the grounds of all such rumors, and to punish the Offenders; giving advertisement to his Majesty and the Councel of any mutinous speeches, which might be raised concerning this business, so generally intended for the publick good.

Shortly after this, viz. upon Monday, Aug. 5^th. M^r. Hunt, Ric. Atkyns and others, laid l 1.7 out the ground where the River, through Neatmore should go, by a straight line to Mumbes dikes end:* 1.8 but misliking the way, on Tuesday they veiwed New ditch; and in the North∣east end thereof,* 1.9 by the Pow dich, laid out the Ditch, to be led, line-right, from thence to the Cross at Up∣well Towns end.

And upon m 1.10 Wednesday, about 8 of the Clock, the work began, in the presence of Mr. Hunt (who cast the first spit the wrong way) Mr. Helon, Mr. Tot∣nall, Mr. Hamon, Mr. Iohn Fyncham, Mr. Richard Atkyns, and others. And was prosecuted so well, as that upon † 1.11 the xxi ^th. of December following (be∣ing the Feast day of S. Thomas the Apo∣stle) the Bank at the Cross at Upwell towns end was opened, and the River suffred to run; as also a Bridge present∣ly laid over.* 1.12 But on the xv ^th. of March next ensuing, there hapned so great a storm, that it brake the Banks of this new River, and drowned Neatmore, with the severals adjoining: So that on the xxi.* 1.13 of the same Month of March, they were constrained to stop the River at Upwell Towns end, again.

Not long after this, there was a Pe∣tition * 1.14 exhibited to the King, by the Inhabitants of divers fen-towns with∣out the Ile of Ely, in the Counties of Suff. and Cambridg; humbly desi∣ring, that whereas a most laudable work of drayning the Fens &c. was then re∣commended to the high Court of Par∣liament, and that divers Towns lying on the skirts of those Fens would have no benefit thereby, in regard their lands were very seldome surrounded; they therefore might be excluded out of the intended Act of Parliament, whereby a proportion of the said Fen grounds was to be allowed to the un∣dertakers in the drayning, for the sup∣porting of their charge therein.

Whereupon the Lords of the Coun∣cel, by their Letters o 1.15 dated at White-Hall upon the xxxi. of August, in the fourth year of the said K. Iames his Reign,* 1.16 reciting what had been signified formerly by them as to the fecibleness of the before-specified Drayning, and that the Lord Chief Justice (Popham) was present at the Session of Sewers held at Cambridge, and gave notice to the Country that his Majesties pleasure was so far to further the same, as to men of understanding might appear to be to the general good of his people; as also that there was a Law then made for the said Drayning: And more∣over, that at another Session held at Wysbeche, order was taken for the drawing of a Law to be presented to the Parliament for confirmation there∣of: But that some persons, not well understanding the state of the cause, complained to his Majesty of great los∣ses and hindrances which they were like to sustain in case the said Act should proceed; and therefore desired the said Commissioners to examine the true Causes of those Complaints; and to represent to them the true state of the Fens, with the difference between the last years profit and that present year.

In answer whereunto the said Com∣missioners made this return p 1.17 to the said Lords of the Councel; viz. that they did meet at Cambridge on the 22. of October 1606. for the Exami∣nation of the Petition formerly mentio∣ned; and that they found few reasons to fortify it, but such as were or might be provided for in the intended Bill; all persons with whom they had treat∣ed having acknowledged, that the want of drayning was an inestimable hurt to those Fenny Countries: And that whereas an objection had been made of much prejudice that might redound to the poor by such drayning, they had information by persons of good credit, that in several places of recovered grounds, within the Isle of Ely &c. such as before that time had lived upon Almes, having no help but by fish∣ing and fowling, and such poor means out of the Common Fens, while they lay drowned, were since come to good and supportable Estates.

Notes

• g 1.1

  Ib. 197. a.
• * 1.2

  13 ••••ly 3. ••ac. an. 1605.
• h 1.3

  13 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. ••ac. an. 1605.
• i 1.4

  I••. f. 204. ••.
• k 1.5

  Ib. f. 195. a.
• * 1.6

  23 Iulij. 3. Iac.
• l 1.7

  Ib. 199. b. A••g. 5th.
• * 1.8

  An. 1605.
• * 1.9

  Popham lode begun.
• m 1.10

  Aug. 7th.
• † 1.11

  Ib. f. 199. b. 11 Dec.
• * 1.12

  15 M••rtij.
• * 1.13

  21 Martij.
• * 1.14

  Ib. s. 195. b.
• o 1.15

  Ib. f. 196. a.
• * 1.16

  Ult. A••g. 4 Iac. Anno 1606.
• p 1.17

  Ib. f. 196. b••