470 THE NENE OUTFALL. TAKT VIII. 



was obtained, and then only with, great difficulty and 

 cost, in consequence of the opposition of the town of 

 Wisbeach. The works consisted principally of a deep 

 cut or canal, about six miles in length, penetrating far 

 through the sandbanks into the deep waters of the 

 Wash. They were commenced in 1828, and brought 

 to completion in 1830, with the most satisfactory 

 results. A greatly improved outfall was secured by thus 

 carrying the mouths of the rivers out to sea, and the 

 drainage of the important agricultural districts through 

 which the Nene flows was greatly benefited ; whilst 

 at the same time nearly 6000 acres of valuable corn- 

 growing land were added to the county of Lincoln. 



But the opening of the Nene Outfall was only the first 

 of a series of improvements which eventually included 

 the whole of the valuable lands of the North Level, in 

 the district situated between the Nene and the Welland. 

 The opening at Grunthorpe Sluice, which was the outfall 

 for the waters of the Holland Drain, was not less than 

 eleven feet three inches above low water at Crab-Hole ; 

 and it was therefore obvious that by lowering this open- 

 ing, a vastly improved drainage of the whole of the level 

 district, extending from twenty to thirty miles inland, 

 for which that sluice was the artificial outlet, would 

 immediately be secured. Urged by Mr. Telford, an Act 

 for the purpose of carrying out the requisite improve- 

 ment was obtained in 1830, and the excavations having 

 been commenced shortly after, were completed in 1834. 

 A new cut was made from Clow's Cross to Grunthorpe 

 Sluice, in place of the winding course of the old Shire 

 Drain ; besides which, a bridge was erected at Cross Keys, 

 or Sutton Wash, and an embankment made across the Salt 

 Marshes, forming a" high road, which, with the bridges 

 previously erected at Fossdyke and Lynn, effectually 

 connected the counties of Norfolk and Lincoln. The 

 result of the improved outfall was what the engineer 

 had predicted. A thorough natural drainage was 



