The Nineteenth Century 



117 



different districts, and their relative values as given by Vancouver, are 

 probably accurate enough to be indicative. 



DRAINING THE FENLAND 



The condition of the Fenland towards the end of the eighteenth century 

 was far from satisfactory,' and the phrases that Vancouver used to describe 

 the fen parishes were monotonously similar. The fens of Fordham were 

 "in a very bad state" ; those of Bottisham were "in a deplorable situation, 

 and subject to frequent inundations"; those of Burwell, too, were "con- 

 stantly inundated". So were those of Ely and Upwell and Outwell. At 

 Elm, cultivation was "very uncertain"; at Littleport, it was "extremely 

 precarious". And so the tale of woe continued throughout the whole of 

 the Isle of Ely. Only in a few parishes were the fens "tolerably well 

 drained"; and even then often at "very considerable expense". The 

 tragedy was all the greater because some parts of the fen under improved 

 cidtivation yielded "a produce far beyond the richest high lands in the 

 county".^ 



These deplorable conditions were attributed by the men of the time 

 to the "want of a better outfall through the haven of Lynn".^ Within 

 3 miles of Lynn, the Ouse made a great bend following a course of about 

 6 miles or so. The channel of this river was of varying width and was full 

 of shifting sandbanks. In some places it was as much as a mile wide, 

 comprising a number of uncertain streams ; and, during floods, the flow of 

 the river was much impeded.^ Many people believed that the only solution 



' See p. 187 belov^. 



^ C. Vancouver, pp. 202-3. This estimate was based upon conditions in 50,000 acres 

 of fen around " Chatteris, Elm, Levcrington Parson Drove, Wisbich, St Mary's, and 

 Thorney ". Compare with the general information given in Vancouver's table above. 



3 Ibid. p. 139. 



■• See p. 191 below. 



