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drainage。 The North Level includes all that part of the Great
Bedford Level situated between Morton's Leam and the river Welland；
comprising about 48；000 acres of land。 The river Nene； which brings
down from the interior the rainfall of almost the entire county of
Northampton； flows through nearly the centre of the district。
In some places the stream is confined by embankments； in others it
flows along artificial outs； until it enters the great estuary of
the Wash； about five miles below Wisbeach。 This town is situated on
another river which flows through the Level； called the Old Nene。
Below the point of junction of these rivers with the Wash； and
still more to seaward； was South Holland Sluice； through which the
waters of the South Holland Drain entered the estuary。 At that
point a great mass of silt had accumulated； which tended to choke
up the mouths of the rivers further inland； rendering their
navigation difficult and precarious； and seriously interrupting the
drainage of the whole lowland district traversed by both the Old
and New Nene。 Indeed the sands were accumulating at such a rate；
that the outfall of the Wisbeach River threatened to become
completely destroyed。
Such being the state of things； it was determined to take the
opinion of some eminent engineer； and Mr。 Rennie was employed to
survey the district and recommend a measure for the remedy of these
great evils。 He performed this service in his usually careful and
masterly manner； but as the method which he proposed； complete
though it was； would have seriously interfered with the trade of
Wisbeach； by leaving it out of the line of navigation and drainage
which he proposed to open up； the corporation of that town
determined to employ another engineer； and Mr Telford was selected
to examine and report upon the whole subject； keeping in view the
improvement of the river immediately adjacent to the town of
Wisbeach。
Mr。 Telford confirmed Mr。 Rennie's views to a large extent； more
especially with reference to the construction of an entirely new
outfall； by making an artificial channel from Kindersleys Cut to
Crab…Hole Eye anchorage； by which a level lower by nearly twelve
feet would be secured for the outfall waters； but he preferred
leaving the river open to the tide as high as Wisbeach； rather than
place a lock with draw…doors at Lutton Leam Sluice； as had been
proposed by Mr。 Rennie。 He also suggested that the acute angle at
the Horseshoe be cut off and the river deepened up to the bridge at
Wisbeach； making a new cut along the bank on the south side of the
town； which should join the river again immediately above it；
thereby converting the intermediate space； by draw…doors and the
usual contrivances； into a floating dock。 Though this plan was
approved by the parties interested in the drainage； to Telford's
great mortification it was opposed by the corporation of Wisbeach；
and like so many other excellent schemes for the improvement of the
Fen districts； it eventually fell to the ground。
The cutting of a new outfall for the river Nene； however； could not
much longer be delayed without great danger to the reclaimed lands
of the North Level； which； but for some relief of the kind； must
shortly have become submerged and reduced to their original waste
condition。 The subject was revived in 1822； and Mr。 Telford was
again called upon； in conjunction with Sir John Rennie； whose
father had died in the preceding year； to submit a plan of a new
Nene Outfall； but it was not until the year 1827 that the necessary
Act was obtained； and then only with great difficulty and cost； in
consequence of the opposition of the town of Wisbeach。 The works
consisted principally of a deep cut or canal； about six miles in
length； penetrating far through the sand banks into the deep waters
of the Wash。 They were begun in 1828； and brought to completion in
1830； with the most satisfactory results。 A greatly improved
outfall was secured by thus carrying。 the mouths of the rivers out
to sea； and the drainage of the important agricultural districts
through which the Nene flows was greatly benefited； while at the
same time nearly 6000 acres of valuable corn…growing land were
added to the county of Lincoln。
But the opening of the Nene Outfall was only the first of a series
of improvements which eventually included the whole of the valuable
lands of the North Level； in the district situated between the Nene
and the Welland。 The opening at Gunthorpe Sluice； which was the
outfall for the waters of the Holland Drain； was not less than
eleven feet three inches above low water at Crab…Hole； and it was
therefore obvious that by lowering this opening a vastly improved
drainage of the whole of the level district； extending from twenty
to thirty miles inland； for which that sluice was the artificial
outlet； would immediately be secured。 Urged by Mr。 Telford； an Act
for the purpose of carrying out the requisite improvement was
obtained in 1830； and the excavations having been begun shortly
after； were completed in 1834。
A new cut was made from Clow's Cross to Gunthorpe Sluice； in place
of the winding course of the old Shire Drain； besides which； a
bridge was erected at Cross Keys； or Sutton Wash； and an embankment
was made across the Salt Marshes； forming a high road； which； with
the bridges previously erected at Fossdyke and Lynn； effectually
connected the counties of Norfolk and Lincoln。 The result of the
improved outfall was what the engineer had predicted。 A thorough
natural drainage was secured for an extensive district； embracing
nearly a hundred thousand acres of fertile land； which had before
been very ineffectually though expensively cleared of the surplus
water by means of windmills and steam…engines。 The productiveness
of the soil was greatly increased； and the health and comfort of
the inhabitants promoted to an extent that surpassed all previous
expectation。
The whole of the new cuts were easily navigable； being from 140 to
200 feet wide at bottom； whereas the old outlets had been variable
and were often choked with shifting sand。 The district was thus
effectually opened up for navigation； and a convenient transit
afforded for coals and other articles of consumption。 Wisbeach
became accessible to vessels of much larger burden； and in the
course of a few years after the construction of the Nene Outfall；
the trade of the port had more than doubled。 Mr。 Telford himself；
towards the close of his life； spoke with natural pride of the
improvements which he had thus been in so great a measure
instrumental in carrying out； and which had so materially promoted
the comfort； prosperity； and welfare of a very extensive
district。*＇3＇
We may mention； as a remarkable effect of the opening of the new
outfall； that in a few hours the lowering of the waters was felt
throughout the whole of the Fen level。 The sluggish and stagnant
drains； cuts； and leams in far distant places； began actually to
flow； and the sensation created was such； that at Thorney； near
Peterborough； some fifteen miles from the sea； the intelligence
penetrated even to the congregation then sitting in churchfor it
was Sunday morningthat 〃the waters were running！〃 when
immediately the whole flocked out； parson and all； to see the great
sight； and acknowledge the blessings of science。 A humble Fen poet
of the last century thus quaintly predicted the moral results
likely to arise from the improved drainage of his native district：…
〃With a change of elements suddenly
There shall a change of men and manners be；
Hearts thick and tough as hides shall feel remorse；
And souls of sedge shall understand discourse；
New hands shall learn to work； forget to steal；
New legs shall go to church； new knees to kneel。〃
The prophecy has indeed been fulfilled。 The barbarous race of
Fen…men has disappeared before the skill of the engineer。 As the
land has been drained； the half…starved fowlers and fen…roamers
have subsided into the ranks of steady industrybecome farmers；
traders； and labourers。 The plough has passed over the bed of
Holland Fen； and the agriculturist reaps his increase more than a
hundred fold。。 Wide watery wastes； formerly abounding in fish；
are now covered with waving crops of corn every summer。 Sheep graze
on the dry bottom of Whittlesea Mere； and kine low where not many
years since the silence of the waste was only disturbed by the
croaking of frogs and the screaming of wild fowl。 All this has been
the result of the science of the engineer； the enterprise of the
landowner； and the industry of our peaceful army of skilled
labourers。*＇4＇
Footnotes for Chapter XIII。
*＇1＇ Telford's Life； p261
*＇2＇ The piers are built internally with hollow compartments； as at
the Menai Bridge； the side walls being 3 feet thick and the cross
walls 2 feet。 P