Middle Level. 



97 



varying from a few hundred yards to three quarters of a mile in 

 width, having an area of about 5000 acres. This is used as a 

 reservoir for the winter floods, and can be embanked only when 

 the outfall is greatly improved. It is therefore uncultivated, but 

 bears large crops of excellent hay ; so that a great deal is used 

 by the neighbouring farmers. This hay is coarse and long, but 

 all kinds of stock will eat it ; the eddish is stocked with cattle 

 and young horses (which feed exceedingly well on it) until the 

 winter months, when the floods may be expected. The fields 

 (being parted by ditches) are then cleared, the gates removed, 

 and when heavy downfalls come, and the swollen upland waters 

 descend, these Washes are laid 6 or 7 feet under water, the roads 

 across being traversed by ferry-boats. 



Middle LeveL — Northward of the Old Bedford River is 

 the Middle Level, containing upwards of 150,000 acres, be- 

 ing the largest of the three levels. This Level is parti- 

 tioned into the north, south, and east divisions, each being sub- 

 divided into numerous private districts, for the convenience of 

 drainage. Under "the Middle Level River Act," passed in 1810, 

 about 70,000/. were expended in scouring out and deepening the 

 Old River Nene (which is the main artery of this Level) , and nearly 

 all the rivers and large drains, thus effecting a great improve- 

 ment in the interior drainage, whilst the Eau Brink Cut wonder- 

 fully aided the work of benefit at the outfall.* The present 

 mode of drainage of the Middle Level is principally by wind- 

 engines, of which there are 150; and there are four steam-engines 

 draining about 30,000 acres, besides three private engines, which 

 drain about 1000 acres. 



The Manea and Welney district engine is situated on the bank of the 

 Old Bedford River, which (as before observed) empties into the Ouse at 

 Salter's-lode Sluice. This engine is of 60 horse-power ; the diameter of 

 the water-wheel is 32 feet, width of the ladles" 2 feet 9 inches, 

 making 3J revolutions in a minute. It drains 8685 acres, the cost of 

 coals being 7c?. per acre. The Sutton and Mepal engine is built a little 

 higher up on the same bank, and throws its water into a small cut called 

 " the Counter Drain," which empties itself into the Bedford River. It 

 is 80-horse power ; the diameter of the wheel being 32 feet, and the 

 width of the ladles 4 feet, making 3^ revolutions per minute. It drains 

 about 10,348 acres, costing ']^d. per acre for coals, &c. The March 1st 

 District Engine is on the south bank of the Nene, about a mile eastward 



* This cut gave an extra fall of 6 feet at St. Germain's (the upper end of 

 the cut), and reduced the surface of the water in all the Middle and South 

 Level rivers in proportion. This relieved the pressure on the banks, and 

 prevented inundation, enabling the artificial works or mills to discharge 

 the low land waters. Steam soon after began to be applied, and claying 

 began to make great progress, so that the Middle and South Levels, from 

 an oat-growing, became a wheat-growing country. 



VOL. VIII. H 



