Great Level. 



83 



The description, then, which has been given will suffice to 

 indicate the general state of the Great Level previous to the great 

 works of drainage, and will also give some idea of the magnitude 

 and difficulties of that undertaking, which the enterprise and 

 industry of man have so successfully accomplished. 



The first great work was executed by Moreton, Bishop 

 of Ely, in the reign of Henry VII., a.d. 1478. He made a cut, 

 forty feet wide and four deep, from Peterborough to Guyhirn and 

 Wisbech, and also, as is reported, a nev/ outfall to sea. This cut 

 was of great importance to drainage and navisration, and still con- 

 tinues so at the present day, — the cut from Guyhirn to Wisbech 

 still bearing the name of " Moreton's Learn." The only improve- 

 ments, however, that were made prior to the reign of Charles L 

 appear to have been local, and comparatively unimportant. In 

 the reign of Elizabeth the general drainage of the Great Level 

 began to be considered as a public concern, and frequent protests 

 were made to the Government against the deplorable condition 

 of this district^ which was then, as it had been for the space of 

 many ages, a vast and deep fen, affording little benefit to the 

 realm other than fish or fowl, with overmuch harbour to a rude 

 and almost barbarous sort of lazy and beggarly people." Accord- 

 ingly a plan was set on foot for draining the whole level ; but 

 nothing of practical benefit was effected beyond the issuing of 

 courts of sewers, the surveying of the district, and the passing of 

 the first law for draining the Great Level in a.d. 1600, until the 

 accession of James I. On the 2'2nd of June, 1606, was passed 

 the first local act for improving the state of the Fens. Under 

 this act 6000 acres, called the ring of Walderseaand Coldham," 

 in the Isle of Ely, were drained, the adventurers in the under- 

 taking receiving two-thirds of the lands as a recompense. In 

 1630, the illustrious Francis, Earl of Bedford, with 13 gentlemen 

 adventurers, undertook to drain the level, on the condition that 

 they should have 95,000 acres for their satisfaction. In order to 

 carry off the superfluous waters, the Earl and his associates 

 caused the following channels to be made, namely : — 



1. Bedford River (now called the Old Bedford River), extending 



from Earith to Salter's Lode, 70 feet wide, and 21 miles in 

 length. 



2. Sam's Cut, from Feltwell, in Norfolk, to the river Ouse. 



3. A Cut near Ely (now called Sandy's, or Sandall's Cut), 2 rniles 



long, and 40 feet wide. 



4. Bevifl's Leam, from Whittlesey Mere to Guyhirn, about 10 miles 



long, and 40 feet wide. 



5. Moreton's Leam, before mentioned, was new made. 



6. Peakirk Drain, 10 miles long, and 17 feet broad. 



7. New South Eau, from Crowland to Clow's-cross. 



