104 Lincolnshire Notes & Queries. 



trained out to sea in definite channels, the bar or delta in 

 question has been formed. 



If we take the names of places, we shall see the rapidity 

 with which this bar has been formed. 



The place called " Lynn " bears a Celtic name, and means 

 "deep water." In other words, King's Lynn occupies a place 

 which in the time of the Celts was deep water. Part of the 

 deep water is still left, and is to be found at " Lynn Deeps." 



" Gedney " is compounded of two Danish words " Ged," 

 a pike ; and " Nea," an island surrounded by the sea. This 

 name could not have been given earlier than A.D. 790, when 

 the Danes first invaded us, and it suffices to say that at that 

 time the bar in question had not been sufficiently formed to 

 prevent the sea flowing from the present Wash past Gedney 

 and up to Ely and Cambridge ; while, when Lynn was deep 

 water, it seems probable that the bar had not even begun to 

 be formed, nor is it likely that it had begun, for at that time 

 the rivers in question did not reach so far, but entered the 

 Wash many miles away. To proceed with the names of 

 places, Wisbeach means the "Ouse beach," though its position 

 is so far changed that the " beach " is now at least 20 miles 

 away. 



Holbeach means the " beach in the hole," but that place is 

 1 6 miles from the sea. 



The tide no longer flows to Tydd, i.e. Tide, or within 

 many miles of it. 



Moulton Seas End is now 8 miles from the sea. 



Turning from Spalding northward, anyone driving from 

 Gosberton Risgate to Swineshead will see at a distance of 9 or 

 10 miles from the sea the small hills thrown up by the waves 

 with the marks of the tides still upon them. 



In Keble's Reports^ A.D. 1685, a case is reported thus: 



" Parte lessee of Sir H. Herm ">. Brownlow^ in ejectment 

 of a marsh the Plaintiff" claimed as parcel of the manor of 

 Cressy Hall, the Defendant as parcel of the Manor of 

 Newburgh in Surfleet ; but it appeared to be a marsh in 

 common to two vills, between them and their tenants 

 by prescription for sheep, being salt. The Plaintiff" also 

 claimed as derelict ; but> being overflowed by the sea at 

 springtides^ he was non-suited." 



Although in the reign of Charles the 2nd the locus in quo 

 was, as appears above, overflowed by the sea, it is now about 

 12 miles from the sea. 



