Wisbech In The Fenlands

Wisbech is a market town in the Fenlands in the county of Cambridgeshire. The River Nene and the Fens marshland gave prosperity to Wisbech in agriculture. When the Fens were drained, it created ideal conditions for agriculture and made Wisbech an important trading location for farming products.

The Nene runs through the town of Wisbech, from Northampton then joining the Grand Union Canal and finally flowing into the Wash. The river is 91 miles in length and the latter 26 miles are tidal. The river has an interesting history and is well documented in the many books written on the area.

Wisbech town reflects Georgian architecture and it has a perfect Georgian Street known as the North and South Brinks. The Brinks are so elegant and such well preserved examples of Georgian architecture that they have featured in television dramas. David Copperfield was filmed there. It is said to be the most well preserved of its kind in England.

One of the oldest buildings in Wisbech is the castle which has been rebuilt several times. It has been a fortress but now serves as a venue for events. It was built in 1086 by William the Conqueror. King John slept in the castle during a visit to the town. The castle is now a tourist attraction and is a popular location for weddings.

It's said that King John lost the crown jewels during his trip through Wisbech. They were being transported along a route next to the Wash but the tide was faster than the horse drawn wagons and some of the jewels were lost to the sea. There are other speculative stories.

The finest Georgian building in Wisbech is Peckover House. The house was built by a Quaker banking family. It's a building with beautiful gardens and elegant panelled rooms. The gardens are so well established they have fruit trees said to be 300 years old. The building has been well maintained and is now a place to hold an event or ceremony. The family named Peckover gave the house to the National Trust in the 1950s. Preservation is now secured for the future.

In the town a tall and ornate monument stands as a reminder of the African Slave Trade and a man called Thomas Clarkson, who worked hard campaigning against slavery. This memorial is named after him. A plaque was also placed in Westminster Abbey in his memory. The monument itself stands proud to honour a man who helped create important changes.

The town has much to be proud of with so many noted people. Octavia Hill Museum is named after Octavia Hill who worked towards improving the living accommodation of the poor people. She was also a cofounder of the National Trust. Wisbech is steeped in history, famous people and scenic splendour.

The modern day Wisbech still thrives due to agriculture and with a population of 20,000, work is important to the people of the town. The major employment is in the processing plants and canning factories.

Wisbech continues to make the most of the conditions left by the changes that history has created. It's a beautiful location for both visitors and businesses.

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