CHAP. V. THE LINCOLN FENS. 161 



simple but thoroughly scientific method which he thus 

 invented for the effectual discharge of the drainage of 

 the Fens. And even to this day there are whole dis- 

 tricts in which the stubborn obstinacy of ignorant 

 obstructives still continues to stand in the way of its 

 introduction. The Wildinore Fen proprietors, however, 

 had the advantage of being led by a sagacious, clear- 

 seeing man in Sir Joseph Banks, who cordially supported 

 the adoption of the proposed plan with all the weight of 

 his influence, and Mr. Rennie was eventually empowered 

 to carry it into execution. 



In laying out the works, he divided them accord- 

 ing to their levels, placing Wildinore and West Fen in 

 one plan, and East Fen in another. In the drainage 

 of the former, the outlet was made by Anton's Gowt, 

 about two miles and a half above Boston, and by 

 Maud Foster, a little below that town. But both of 

 these, being found too narrow and shallow, were con- 

 siderably enlarged and deepened, and provided with 

 double sluices and lifting gates : one set pointing towards 

 the Witham in order to keep out the tides and river- 

 floods ; the other to the land, in order to prevent the 

 water in summer from draining too low, and thereby 

 hindering navigation as well as the due irrigation of the 

 lands. An extensive main drain was also cut through 

 the Wildinore and West Fens to the river Witham, 

 about twenty-one miles long and from eighteen to 

 thirty feet wide, the bottom being an inclined plane 

 falling six inches in the mile. 



The level of the East Fen being considerably lower 

 than that of the Fens to the westward, it was neces- 

 sary to provide for its separate drainage, but on precisely 

 the same principles. From the levels which were taken, 

 it appeared that the bottom of "the Deeps," which 

 formed part of the East Fen, was only two feet six 

 inches above the cill of Maud Foster Sluice, thirteen 

 miles distant ; whereas its highest parts were but eight 



VOL. II. M 



