164 JENNIE'S DRAINAGE OF TART VIT. 



heavy crops of grain. East Fen was attacked the last, 

 the difficulties presented by its formidable chain of lakes 

 being much the greatest ; but the prize also was by far 

 the richest. When the East Fen waters were drained 

 off, the loose black mud settled down into fertile soil. 

 Boats, fish, and wildfowl disappeared, and the plough 

 took their place. After being pared and burnt, the 

 land in the East Fen yielded two and even three crops 

 of oats in succession, of not less than ten quarters to 

 the acre. The cost of executing the drainage had no 

 doubt been very great, amounting to about 580,000/. 

 in all, inclusive of expenditure on roads, &c. ; against 

 which had to be set the value of the lands reclaimed. 

 In 1814 Mr. Anthony Brown, surveyor and valuer, esti- 

 mated their improved rental at 11 0,5 61 /. ; and allowing 

 five per cent, on the capital expended on the works, we 

 thus find the increased net value of the drained lands to 

 be not less than 81,000/. per annum, which, at thirty 

 years' purchase, gives a total increased value of nearly 

 two millions and a half sterling ! l 



It was a matter of great regret to Mr. Rennie that his 

 design was not carried out as respected the improved 

 outfall of the Witham. It was an important part of his 

 original plan that a new and direct channel should be 

 cut for this river from Boston down to deep water at 

 Clayhole, where the tide ebbed out to the main sea 

 level, and there was little probability of the depth being 



1 Mr. Brown's estimate was as follows : 



Land reclaimed in the East Fen . . 12,664 acres worth 40s. per ann. 25,328 



West Fen .. 17,044 50s. 42,610 



Wildmore .. 10,773 42s. 22,623 



Adjoining low lands improved . . 20,000 20s. 20,000 



Total acreage of improved and Annual value 110,561 



drained lands 60,48 L 



Less capital expended on drainage . . . 433,905 



roads, &c... 146,800 



580,705 at 5 per cent 29,035 



81,526 

 Which at 30 years' purchase gives 2,445,780. 



