Farming of Lincolnsliire. 



315 



Before the present direct channel was cut, there appear to have 

 been no less than 12 or 13 elbow bends in the stream ; and the 

 lands were frequently covered by the fresh water, although there 

 was not so much high-land water at that period descending upon 

 them as now, — since the effect of enclosures, &c. is to increase 

 the amount of water carried off from the surface, and almost all 

 the uplands have been so improved in more modern times. The 

 river was without any sluice at its mouth; consequently, its 

 banks were very often broken by the force of the tides, and by 

 the floods of fresh water descending its channel. 



As this is a comparatively unknown district, a compressed ac- 

 count of the drainage works connected with it may be of interest 

 to the public. In the year 16-35 (10 Charles I.) Sir John Munson 

 became the undertaker for draining the fens and carrs lying on 

 both sides the river, and in partnership with the larger free- 

 holders, who adventured for their own share, agreed to effect the 

 drainage, and set a sluice or clow near the outfall, so that these 

 grounds should become good meadow and pasture. A period of 

 six years being allotted for the execution of the work, and 5827 

 acres assigned to Sir John and his heirs as a recompense, the 

 work was performed, being completed in 1638. A channel 

 nearly in a straight line was excavated from the H umber to 

 Glentham Bridge, a distance of 18 miles, and several drains 

 formed, leading to the new cut, — the lands between Eisham and 

 Ferraby being drained by sewers made in the reign of Edward 

 III., and having a separate outfall from that of the river. The 

 level was adjudged to be sufhciently drained and recovered, and 

 the portion allotted to the drainers ; but, during that time when 

 the whole nation appealed to arms for redressing grievances, the 

 smaller freeholders and commoners forcibly entered again upon 

 those lands, and the drains were filled up, the works neglected, and 

 the sluices decayed. By an Act passed about 1767, the Ancholme 

 was carried to its outfall in its present course, for the purposes 

 of drainage and navigation ; and the land which, before this im- 

 provement, was worth only from 1^. to 3^. per acre rental, 

 was raised in 30 years to the value of from 10^. to 30^. per acre, 

 — the annual expense amounting at that time to about 2s. 6d, 

 per acre on 17,197 acres. The drainage, however, vvas not com- 

 plete, and continued to grow worse instead of better, so that in 

 1801 the great engineer of the fens — Mr. Rennie — -was em- 

 ployed to devise a more adequate system. His report was not 

 adopted, and no improvement took place until 1825, when, under 

 the recommendation of Sir J. Rennie, an Act was obtained, and 

 the river straightened, widened, and deepened, so as to double 

 its capacity. A new sluice was erected at Ferraby, having its 

 sill eight feet lower than the old one, with a new lock 20 feet 



