North Level and Portsand. 



103 



have occurred, had the present Eau Brink Cut and improved Nene 

 Outfall been in existence. In 1809, Mr. Rennie made a report 

 upon the drainage of this Level, projecting extensive plans ofim- 

 })rovement, both as regarded the internal drainage of the North 

 Level, South Holland, the LIundred of Wisbech, the Whittlesey 

 Washes,, and the outfall to sea ; but this plan was not persevered 

 in, the Level remaining in its lost condition until the passing of the 

 iNene Act in 1827. This included the drainage of the Fens as 

 follows : — 



Acres. 



The North Level and Portsand . . . . 48,000 

 South Holland, including part of Sutton St. Mary's,) oj. nnn 

 and Tidd St. Mary's . . . . j- ^-^,^^00 

 Sutton St. Edmund's . ' . . .5,700 

 Wisbech Hundred, including the parishes of Tidd] 



St. Giles, Newton, Leverington, and Parson > I'TjYOO 

 Drove ...... J 



Waldersea and Begdale 8,000 



Lands in Moreton's Learn Wash . . . 3,500 



116,900 



To this undertaking — 



The Bedford Level was to contribute . . £48,000 



The Corporation of Wisbech .... 30,000 



Wisbech Hundred, and Tidd-fen . . . 15,000 



South Holland Drainage .... 7,000 



Lands in Sutton St. Edmund's . . . 1,700 



Hamlet of Sutton St. James's . , . . 550 



£102,250 



These works, as before observed, were completed in the year 

 1831 ; a new cut, called the North Level Drain, about 6 miles in 

 length, being made from Clow's Cross to the Nene ; — the water 

 thus passing through a wide, deep, and more direct channel to the 

 improved outfall, instead of winding round by the narrow and im- 

 perfect Shire Drain. This was an incalculable benefit ; formerly 

 the land would not remunerate the farmer for high cultivation 

 and quick succession of crops, but it has greatly improved since. 

 There were about thirty windmills, and one steam-engine (in 

 Borough Fen, near Thorney) in this level ; but in consequence 

 of the above, and other vast improvements, there are now nei- 

 ther steam-engines nor windmills remaining, — the whole drainage 

 being accomplished by the natural descent of the waters to sea," 

 at an annual expense of 45. or 55. per acre. The higher parts of 

 the level are exceedingly well drained, but the lower parts only 

 imperfectly, partly owing to the water being held up at Sutton 

 Bridge. 



