East Anglia Fens and Fenland guide and history to the Wash across Cambridgshire, Lincolnshire and West Norfolk UK.

The Fens are unique with a history and character all of their own. This area of England fans out from the Wash across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and West Norfolk UK. Once an inhospitable swampy wilderness, the Fens has been tamed to leave us today with a network of intricate waterways, which are renown as some of Britain's most atmospheric and tranquil.

Helpful and informative advice to make your holiday, or visit, that much more enjoyable and safer. Maps and Guides are offered as an essential aid to help you get the best out of your visit.

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The pleasure of cruising the Fens, lies with the open uncrowded waters and distant horizons of the 'big sky' landscape. The area also has a high reputation for the quality of fishing, being particularly noted for its coarse fishing, for bream, roach, rudd, pike and zander.


The history of the Fens is a fascinating story of a landscape and it people, where man and nature have interacted to create the Fens environment of today. It is a story of an amazing transition from the wetland wilderness of old to the people made landscape of today.

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In Anglo Saxon and Medieval times the precious areas of dry land rising above the fen, attracted the attention of religious communities. In truly grand style, they founded great cathedrals and monasteries, dominating the skyline and life of the surrounding Fens.

Ely - The ancient city of Ely occupies the largest island in the Fens. In the 7th century, St. Ethelreda founded a religious community on its hill top site. Rich in folk history, Ely was the stronghold of Hereward the Wake, who used the island to stage the final Anglo Saxon resistance against the Norman invasion.

The main development of the city originates from the late 11th Century when construction of the cathedral commenced. Both the cathedral and the surrounding Fens have played a major role in the history of Ely through the centuries.

Today, Ely is characterised by its pattern of narrow streets and monastic buildings, gathered around the spectacular cathedral. Visitors can explore the ancient buildings and medieval gateways, stroll along the riverside or simply enjoy the peaceful relaxed charm of this historic city. In addition to the cathedral, visit Oliver Cromwells house or Ely museum for a fascinating insight into the history of the city and surrounding Fens.

Elsewhere in the Fens, the abbeys at Ramsey, Thorney and Chatteris along with Spalding Priory were influential in the development of these market towns. Ten miles south of Spalding, the small town of Crowland is dominated by the remains of its medieval abbey. Still functioning as the parish church, and featuring an interpretative exhibition, the original abbey was founded in 716 in memory to St. Guthlac. Rebuilt between 1114 and the 15th century, it was on a massive scale, dominating the surrounding Fens. Another landmark in Crowland is the unique medieval triangular bridge in the centre of town.

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Since medieval times the historic Fen towns clustered around the Wash have developed as important ports, enjoying a busy trade with the Low Countries and the Hanseatic League of German and Baltic maritime cities. Along with Boston and Kings Lynn the towns of Wisbech and Spalding now several miles inland, once occupied positions on the medieval coastline of the Wash. Through drainage and reclamation, the Wash coastline is very different today,. However, Wisbech, now 12 miles inland is still an active port.

Boston: Situated on the banks of the River Witham, Boston has long traditions as a port and boasts a wealth of buildings and architecture reflecting its great trading role. The skyline is dominated by St. Bartolph's Church, England…s largest parish church, rising 272 feet above the River Witham. Another imposing landmark is the Maud Foster Windmill, England's tallest working windmill.

The Guildhall Museum, dating back to 1450, depicts the town's Maritime history and features a free inter active computer simulation of what life was like around 1536. The museum also includes the cells and courtroom where the Pilgrim Fathers were tried and imprisoned. Nearby in Spain Lane, Black friars Arts Centre is a lively venue housed in a 13th Century Dominican friary.

King's Lynn: Over 900 years of maritime and trading history are preserved in the historic core of King' Lynn. Still a busy port and thriving commercial centre, the town's medieval churches and guildhalls, secret courtyards and hidden alleys leading down to the river, combine and hidden alleys leading down to the river, combine with the lively atmosphere of two busy market places.

A sample of Lynn's rich history can be found at the Custom House, Lynn Museum and the Town House Museum. Alternatively, visit True's Yard, Lynn's last remaining fishermen's yard in the fishing quarter - the North End, where you can discover some of Lynn…s most infamous criminals and see the town's magnificent treasures, including the unique 14th century King John Cup.

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The large scale draining of the Fens in the 17th and 18th centuries, created rich farming land which brought great trade and prosperity to the Fen towns.

Wisbech: in Wisbech the period 1700 - 1850 witnessed tremendous growth, which established the fine buildings to be seen today. The Crescent and Museum Square display fine architecture including Wisbech 'Castle' and the Fenland Museum which gives an excellent insight into the history of the town and surrounding Fens. North Brink beside the River Nene has been described as 'one of the most perfect Georgian streets in England' and features Pechkover House and 18th century town house, also Elgoods Brewery, a traditional 18th century brewery. Across the river on South Brink is the Octavia Hill Birthplace Museum commemorating the life and work of the founding member of the National Trust and crusader for housing reform.

Spalding is characterised by grand Georgian terraces which flank the River Welland. The town has become noted as the centre of Britain…s flower and bulb industry and is the home of the famous Spalding Flower Parade, usually held in May.

Situated alongside the river, the restored Medieval manor house of Ayscoughfee Hall which is now a museum, telling the fascinating history of the area including the drainage and reclamation of the south Lincolnshire Fens. The museum is complemented by attractive formal gardens. Many attractions around Spalding offer plenty of interest for everyone, making the town an ideal touring base.

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Throughout the Fens you can enjoy the traditional atmosphere and friendly slow pace of historic market towns, with a lifestyle much cherished in today's fast paced world.

The town of March, originally a small island community, developed as a Tudor Port and later as a railway town in the 19th century. With the Old River Nene flowing through its centre, it has been described as 'The Thameside town in miniature', with many attractive cottages and buildings alongside the river. The fascinating history of the town is told in the March Museum.

Similarly, the towns of Chatteris, Littleport and Whittlesey grew from small island communities. Whittlesey is characterised by the 17th century Butter Cross in the centre of the market place. The town is an interesting maze of streets with well preserved architecture spanning several centuries.

Littleport near Ely is famous as the scene of the Littleport Riots of the 19th century.

Chatteris is a typical Fenland market town popular with anglers and bird watchers attracted to the surrounding Fens.

To the south of King's Lynn, the attractive town of Downham Market occupies a site on the edge of the Fens. Characterised by its unusual clock tower in the market place, it is an excellent base for exploring Fen villages, such as Upwell, Outwell and Stow Bardolph.

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The history of the Fens is a fascinating story of a landscape and it people, where man and nature have interacted to create the Fens environment of today. It is a story of an amazing transition from the wetland wilderness of old to the people made landscape of today. This spans the centuries from Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo Saxon times, when habitation was limited to isolated islands and a wide silt ridge which formed around the Wash. Between Domesday and the 13th Century a gradual reclamation of land took place by building banks as flood protection from the surrounding uplands.

The Dark Ages saw a halt to reclamation, however by the early 17th century, with economic recovery, the attention of speculators turned to draining the peat fens in the south and remaining undrained silt fens further north. Under the guidance of the 4th Earl of Bedford, the speculators or adventurers started work on the systematic draining of the Fens. Experienced engineers were commissioned, such as the dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden, who undertook the greatest scheme, constructing the Old and New Bedford Rivers between Earith and Denver.

Local opposition was considerable as the systematic drainage of the land threatened the traditional fishing and wildfowling rights of the Fen dwellers. Their fierce resistance and destruction of the drainage work earned them the name "Fen Tigers".

Drainage schemes continued, but unexpectedly, the land began to shrink at an alarming rate as the soil dried out. As the level of the land dropped, water could no longer drain into the rivers which were by now higher than the fields. Wind pumps were introduced to pump water off the land and into the rivers but their reliance on adequate wind and continued shrinkage of the land saw the task become increasingly difficult. It was not until steam power was introduced in the 1820's that the Fens were effectively drained.

At one time the Fens landscape was once dominated by up to seven hundred windmills, built in timber or brick to drain the land or mill the corn. Many have since disappeared, yet some still survive towering over the Fens. These include Denver Mill near Downham Market, The Great Mull Haddenham,Downfield, Stevens, Wicken and Swaffham windmills south of Ely, Sibsey Trader Mill north of Boston and Maud Foster Windmill in the town of Boston at seven storeys high, the tallest working windmill in Britain.

Today there is a sophisticated network of drains, embankments and pumps to protect the land from the ever present threat of rain and tide.

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Generations of Fen people have maintained a close kinship with the land. History, nature and the ingenuity of man have provided a landscape unrivalled for its rich fertile soils and abundant variety of crops.

From the rich dark peaty soils in the south and west to the fertile silt of the north, wherever you go in the Fens you will find a wide variety of different flowers, fruit and vegetable crops being grown. Different crops are grown to suit local soils and conditions - apple orchards, soft fruit and strawberries around Wisbech, cabbages, cauliflower and brussel sprouts around Boston, flower bulbs around Spalding, carrots and celery in the peat soils around Ely and Chatteris.

Throughout the seasons, the ever changing landscape offers wonderful floral displays. Yellow carpets of daffodils in spring, vivid summer displays of roses in bloom and spectacular flower festivals demonstrate the importance of flower growing in the Fens.

The Fens are the centre of Britain's bulb and seed industry, a rich heritage proudly displayed through festivals, show gardens and flower displays.

The famous Spalding Flower Parade draws in thousands of visitors year after year to marvel at the procession of floral floats decorated with the flowers of around eight million tulips. Taking place around the festival, the South Holland Church Flower Festival offers marvellous displays over a two week period.

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Boston
Market Place
Boston
Lincolnshire PE21 6NN
Tel: 01205 356656
email:

Downham Market
The Priory Centre
Priory Road
Downham Market
Norfolk PE38 9JT
Tel: 01366 387440
email:

Ely
Oliver Cromwells House
29 St. Marys Street
Ely
Cambridgeshire CB7 4HF
Tel: 01353 662062
email:

Spalding
Ayscoughfee Hall
Churchgate
Spalding
Lincs PE11 2RA
Tel: 01775 725468

Wisbech
2 - 3 Bridge Street
Wisbech
Cambridgeshire PE13 1EW
Tel: 01945 583263