Wisbech
Encyclopedia
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens
of Cambridgeshire
. The tidal River Nene
runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges. The name is believed to mean on the back of the (River) Ouse, Ouse being a common Celtic word
relating to 'water'.
Before the Local Government Act 1972
came into force in 1974 Wisbech was a municipal borough
; it is now a civil parish in the Fenland
District.
, the area where Wisbech would develop lay in the west of the Brythonic
Iceni
tribe's territory. Like the rest of Cambridgeshire, Wisbech was part of the kingdom of East Anglia after the Anglo-Saxon invasion.
The first authentic reference to Wisbech occurs c. 1000, when Oswy and Leoflede, on the admission of their son Aelfwin as a monk, gave the vill to the monastery of Ely. (J. Bentham, Hist. Ely, 87). In 1086 Wisbech was held by the abbot, there may have been some 65 to 70 families, or about 300 to 350 persons, in Wisbech manor. It must be remembered, however, that Wisbech, which is the only one of the Marshland vills of the Isle to be mentioned in the Domesday book
, probably comprised the whole area from Tydd Gote down to the far end of Upwell at Welney.
Wisbech Castle
was built by William I
to fortify the town, and in later Tudor
times became a notorious prison, especially for political prisoners among Catholic priests and bishops, many who died there of insanitary conditions. Among those held there were John Feckenham
, the last Abbot of Westminster, and later two of the key participants in the Gunpowder Plot
, Robert Catesby
and Francis Tresham
. The castle was rebuilt in the mid-17th century, and again in 1816 by Joseph Medworth
, who also developed The Crescent, familiar as the setting in numerous costume dramas.
Peckover House, with its fine walled garden, was built for the Quaker banking family in 1722 and now owned by the National Trust
. Formerly known as Bank House, the Peckover Bank later became part of Barclays Bank.
In the 17th century, the local inhabitants became known as the "Fen Tigers" because of their resistance to the draining of the fens, but the project turned Wisbech into a wealthy port handling agricultural produce
. At this time Wisbech was on the estuary of the River Great Ouse
, but silting caused the coastline to move north, and the River Nene
was diverted to serve the town. The Wisbech Canal
joining the River Nene at Wisbech was subsequently filled in and became the dual carriageway leading into the town from the east (now crossing the bypass).
On 27 June 1970, the heaviest point rainfall was recorded in Wisbech, when 2 inches (50.8 mm) fell in just 12 minutes during the Rose Fair.http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/living/keydates/keydates_04.shtml
On 21 September 1979, two Harrier jump jets on a training exercise collided over Wisbech. Both crashed - one into a field, and the other into a residential area. Two houses and a bungalow were demolished on Ramnoth Road, causing the death of Bob Bowers, his two-year-old son Jonathan Bowers, and Bill Trumpess - a former mayor of the town.
The 5-mile (8-kilometre) £6 million A47
Wisbech/West Walton Bypass opened in spring 1982.
The port now houses a large number of berths for yachts adjacent to the 'Boathouse' development.
March to Watlington
(junction), Norfolk
(on the Ely to King's Lynn main line
) via Wisbech East (Victoria Road); the 1866-1959 M&GN
Peterborough
to Sutton Bridge
via Wisbech North
(on Harecroft Road); and the 1883/1884-1966 GER Wisbech and Upwell Tramway
. There were also harbour quay lines either side of the River Nene - M&GN Harbour West branch and GER Harbour East branch.
The Wisbech and March Bramleyline
heritage railway are going to fully restore and re-open the remaining March to Wisbech line as a tourist line similar to the Mid-Norfolk Railway
at Dereham
. The Wisbech branch is Network Rail
property and is still classed as a fully functioning goods line, although the last goods service was in Summer 2000, so the Bramleyline Heritage Railway will lease the track from NR on a 99-year lease. When the line has been fully re-opened, following HM Rail Inspectorate approval, rail services will run between March Elm Road (a new station next to Elm Road crossing, March) and Wisbech East (a new station on Weasenham Lane, Wisbech). It is hoped that a new station will be built at Coldham on the site of the old station's Down (Wisbech bound) platform, with another at Waldersea to allow visitor access to where the group hope to have a depot.
Theatre is a thriving professional theatre, run almost entirely by volunteers and backed by many leading names including Derek Jacobi
, Jo Brand
and Cameron Mackintosh
. It is also the home of the "Nine Lives" theatre company, which was formed as part of Performing Arts programme run by the Isle College.
The amateur dramatic group
The Wisbech Players has been performing for over 50 years. They currently perform twice a year in spring and autumn at the Angles Theatre.
Amateur dramatic group The Wisbech Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (WAODS) have been providing musicals to the town since 1905 and a yearly pantomime
since 1975. The society's home is at the local Thomas Clarkson
Every summer a "Rose Fair" is held in aid of St Peter's Church. The church is decorated with floral displays sponsored by local organisations and businesses. A parade of floats forms up in Queens Road and circuits the town. Strawberry and cream teas are served and stalls raise funds for local charities. Coaches bring visitors from a wide area. Details are available from the local tourist office.
Wisbech is twinned with Arles
in France.
Local youth organisations include the Army Cadet Force
, Air Training Corps
, Sea Cadets, Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets
, Fire cadets and St John Ambulance cadets. There are numerous Scouting
groups for boys and girls.
s (11-18) are the comprehensive
Thomas Clarkson Community College (formerly the Queen's School, which itself was the amalgamation of the Queen's Girls' and Queen's Boys' schools), and the independent
Wisbech Grammar School
, which was founded in 1379, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom.
Primary schools in Wisbech include; Clarkson Infants, St Peters Juniors, The Orchards, Peckover, Nene Infants, Ramnoth Junior School and Elm Road County Primary School. There is also a school for children with special learning needs, Meadowgate School. There is also a further education
centre, the College of West Anglia
formerly the Isle of Ely College, in the town. Many find that after seeking higher education the area is unable to offer suitable employment and subsequently many are forced to move from the area.
team is Wisbech Town Football Club
, nicknamed The Fenmen. Other sports clubs include Wisbech Rugby Union Football Club, Wisbech Tennis Club, Wisbech Cricket Club (who have an annual fixture with the M.C.C. - Marylebone Cricket Club
), Wisbech Hockey Club, Wisbech Squash Club, Wisbech Swimming Club and a number of martial arts
clubs.
The "Nine Mile River Swim" between Wisbech and Sutton Bridge
in the River Nene
was won four times in the 1930s by Ernie (Bunny) Bunning. When the swim was moved to the swimming pool as a 220 yard race David Bunning, his son, won the cup four times in the 1960s.
, particularly along North Brink and The Crescent. It has been used in BBC One
's 1999 adaptation
of Charles Dickens
' David Copperfield
and ITV1
's Micawber, starring David Jason
. A "Wisbech Rock Festival" appears in the film Still Crazy
. The 2008 feature film Dean Spanley
starring Peter O'Toole
was largely filmed in Wisbech.
) and the Fenland Citizen.
The Tesco
store in Cromwell Road was one of three stores (the other two being in Kent
) chosen to run an initial trial of the Clubcard
loyalty card. The trial ran from October 1993 and due to the success of this trial, the Clubcard programme was rolled out nationwide in February 1995.
The "rabbits on the roundabout" caused considerable discussion. A number of rabbits took up residence on a town centre roundabout, causing damage to the flowers and shrubs. Locals compounded the issue by dumping piles of salad 'seconds' on the roundabout for the rabbits to eat. Despite calls to remove the rabbits, local opposition prevailed. The rabbits remained, much to the humour of outside observers. The roundabout has now been landscaped with maritime 'rabbit-friendly' features to link to the nearby riverside redevelopment. Since then, an outbreak of myxomatosis
took hold of the 'Wisbech warren', and killed many of the animals. A pest control company removed the rest. Rabbits are now conspicuous by their absence from the roundabout, which remains professionally landscaped.
According to a study looking into immigration
patterns, Wisbech was once identified as the seventh "most English" town in Britain by Sky News However, on 16 February 2008 a report in the Daily Express
titled "Death Of A Country Idyll" wrote about how the influx of Eastern European immigrants may have caused the increase of crime and other illegal activities. Then on 20 February 2008 The Fenland Citizen contained an article opposing the Daily Express article.
The Fens
The Fens, also known as the , are a naturally marshy region in eastern England. Most of the fens were drained several centuries ago, resulting in a flat, damp, low-lying agricultural region....
of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. The tidal River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges. The name is believed to mean on the back of the (River) Ouse, Ouse being a common Celtic word
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
relating to 'water'.
Before the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
came into force in 1974 Wisbech was a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
; it is now a civil parish in the Fenland
Fenland
Fenland is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. Its council is based in March, and covers the neighbouring market towns of Chatteris, Whittlesey, and Wisbech, often called the "capital of the fens"...
District.
History
During the Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, the area where Wisbech would develop lay in the west of the Brythonic
Britons (historical)
The Britons were the Celtic people culturally dominating Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages. They spoke the Insular Celtic language known as British or Brythonic...
Iceni
Iceni
The Iceni or Eceni were a British tribe who inhabited an area of East Anglia corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD...
tribe's territory. Like the rest of Cambridgeshire, Wisbech was part of the kingdom of East Anglia after the Anglo-Saxon invasion.
The first authentic reference to Wisbech occurs c. 1000, when Oswy and Leoflede, on the admission of their son Aelfwin as a monk, gave the vill to the monastery of Ely. (J. Bentham, Hist. Ely, 87). In 1086 Wisbech was held by the abbot, there may have been some 65 to 70 families, or about 300 to 350 persons, in Wisbech manor. It must be remembered, however, that Wisbech, which is the only one of the Marshland vills of the Isle to be mentioned in the Domesday book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, probably comprised the whole area from Tydd Gote down to the far end of Upwell at Welney.
Wisbech Castle
Wisbech Castle
Wisbech castle was a motte-and-bailey castle built to fortify Wisbech, in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire, England by William I in 1072. The Norman castle, reputedly was destroyed during a devastating flood of 1236, the original design and layout is still unknown.In the 15th century repairs were...
was built by William I
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
to fortify the town, and in later Tudor
Tudor dynasty
The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was a European royal house of Welsh origin that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms, including the Lordship of Ireland, later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch was Henry Tudor, a descendant through his mother of a legitimised...
times became a notorious prison, especially for political prisoners among Catholic priests and bishops, many who died there of insanitary conditions. Among those held there were John Feckenham
John Feckenham
John Feckenham , also known as John Howman of Feckingham and later John de Feckenham or John Fecknam, was an English churchman, the last abbot of Westminster.-Under Henry VIII and Edward VI:...
, the last Abbot of Westminster, and later two of the key participants in the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
, Robert Catesby
Robert Catesby
Robert Catesby , was the leader of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605....
and Francis Tresham
Francis Tresham
Francis Tresham , eldest son of Sir Thomas Tresham and Merial Throckmorton, was a member of the group of English provincial catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a conspiracy to assassinate King James I of England...
. The castle was rebuilt in the mid-17th century, and again in 1816 by Joseph Medworth
Joseph Medworth
Joseph Medworth the son of Simon Medworth a ropemaker and Anna Lampson was born in Wisbech in 1752.He married Sarah Fisher in 1775 at Wisbech St.Peter church.He moved to London and became a bricklayer and returned to Wisbech in 1793....
, who also developed The Crescent, familiar as the setting in numerous costume dramas.
Peckover House, with its fine walled garden, was built for the Quaker banking family in 1722 and now owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. Formerly known as Bank House, the Peckover Bank later became part of Barclays Bank.
In the 17th century, the local inhabitants became known as the "Fen Tigers" because of their resistance to the draining of the fens, but the project turned Wisbech into a wealthy port handling agricultural produce
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
. At this time Wisbech was on the estuary of the River Great Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
, but silting caused the coastline to move north, and the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
was diverted to serve the town. The Wisbech Canal
Wisbech Canal
The Wisbech Canal was a broad canal near Wisbech in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire, England. It ran from the River Nene at Wisbech to the Well Creek at Outwell in Norfolk, which gave access to the River Ouse. It was abandoned in 1926 and filled in during the 1970s.-History:The canal was planned...
joining the River Nene at Wisbech was subsequently filled in and became the dual carriageway leading into the town from the east (now crossing the bypass).
On 27 June 1970, the heaviest point rainfall was recorded in Wisbech, when 2 inches (50.8 mm) fell in just 12 minutes during the Rose Fair.http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/weatherwise/living/keydates/keydates_04.shtml
On 21 September 1979, two Harrier jump jets on a training exercise collided over Wisbech. Both crashed - one into a field, and the other into a residential area. Two houses and a bungalow were demolished on Ramnoth Road, causing the death of Bob Bowers, his two-year-old son Jonathan Bowers, and Bill Trumpess - a former mayor of the town.
The 5-mile (8-kilometre) £6 million A47
A47 road
The A47 is a trunk road in England originally linking Birmingham to Great Yarmouth. Most of the section between Birmingham and Nuneaton is now classified as the B4114.-Route:...
Wisbech/West Walton Bypass opened in spring 1982.
The port now houses a large number of berths for yachts adjacent to the 'Boathouse' development.
Railways
Wisbech once had three railway branch lines: the 1847/1848-1968 GERGreat Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
March to Watlington
Watlington, Norfolk
Watlington is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 2,031 in 852 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk....
(junction), Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
(on the Ely to King's Lynn main line
Fen Line
The Fen Line is a railway in the United Kingdom that runs between the cities of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn, Norfolk; the line is so called because it runs through The Fens. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 5 and comprises SRS 05.06 and part of 05.05...
) via Wisbech East (Victoria Road); the 1866-1959 M&GN
Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
The Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, was a joint railway owned by the Midland Railway and the Great Northern Railway in eastern England, affectionately known as the 'Muddle and Get Nowhere' to generations of passengers, enthusiasts, and other users.The main line ran from Peterborough to...
Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
to Sutton Bridge
Sutton Bridge
Sutton Bridge is a village and civil parish in southeastern Lincolnshire, England on the west bank of the River Nene in the district of South Holland.-Geography:...
via Wisbech North
Wisbech North railway station
Wisbech North railway station was a station in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. It had been part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway network in East Anglia, and closed in 1959.Former Services-History:...
(on Harecroft Road); and the 1883/1884-1966 GER Wisbech and Upwell Tramway
Wisbech and Upwell Tramway
The Wisbech and Upwell Tramway was a rural standard gauge tramway in East Anglia. It was built by the Great Eastern Railway between Wisbech, Cambridgeshire and Upwell, Norfolk to carry agricultural produce. Although called a tram, in many ways it more closely resembled a conventional railway...
. There were also harbour quay lines either side of the River Nene - M&GN Harbour West branch and GER Harbour East branch.
The Wisbech and March Bramleyline
Wisbech and March Bramleyline
The Wisbech and March Bramley Line is a proposed heritage railway based in the town of March in Cambridgeshire, England, that aims to reinstate services over the disused railway line linking the town with Wisbech.- Historical background :...
heritage railway are going to fully restore and re-open the remaining March to Wisbech line as a tourist line similar to the Mid-Norfolk Railway
Mid-Norfolk Railway
The Mid-Norfolk Railway or MNR is a heritage railway in the English county of Norfolk. Opening as a tourist line in 1997, it is often referred to as a "New Generation" heritage railway....
at Dereham
Dereham
Dereham, also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of...
. The Wisbech branch is Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
property and is still classed as a fully functioning goods line, although the last goods service was in Summer 2000, so the Bramleyline Heritage Railway will lease the track from NR on a 99-year lease. When the line has been fully re-opened, following HM Rail Inspectorate approval, rail services will run between March Elm Road (a new station next to Elm Road crossing, March) and Wisbech East (a new station on Weasenham Lane, Wisbech). It is hoped that a new station will be built at Coldham on the site of the old station's Down (Wisbech bound) platform, with another at Waldersea to allow visitor access to where the group hope to have a depot.
Culture
The AnglesAngles
The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
Theatre is a thriving professional theatre, run almost entirely by volunteers and backed by many leading names including Derek Jacobi
Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek George Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director.A "forceful, commanding stage presence", Jacobi has enjoyed a highly successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, and Oedipus the King. He received a Tony Award for his performance in...
, Jo Brand
Jo Brand
Josephine Grace "Jo" Brand is a BAFTA winning British comedian, writer, and actor.- Early life :Jo Brand was born 23 July 1957 in Wandsworth, London. Her mother was a social worker. Brand is the middle of three children, with two brothers...
and Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...
. It is also the home of the "Nine Lives" theatre company, which was formed as part of Performing Arts programme run by the Isle College.
The amateur dramatic group
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
The Wisbech Players has been performing for over 50 years. They currently perform twice a year in spring and autumn at the Angles Theatre.
Amateur dramatic group The Wisbech Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (WAODS) have been providing musicals to the town since 1905 and a yearly pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
since 1975. The society's home is at the local Thomas Clarkson
Every summer a "Rose Fair" is held in aid of St Peter's Church. The church is decorated with floral displays sponsored by local organisations and businesses. A parade of floats forms up in Queens Road and circuits the town. Strawberry and cream teas are served and stalls raise funds for local charities. Coaches bring visitors from a wide area. Details are available from the local tourist office.
Wisbech is twinned with Arles
Arles
Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence....
in France.
Local youth organisations include the Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
, Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
, Sea Cadets, Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets
Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets
The Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets is a voluntary uniformed youth organisation for girls aged between 11 and 20, It is also a registered charity, and by virtue of its work towards the personal and social development of young people, it is a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services...
, Fire cadets and St John Ambulance cadets. There are numerous Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
groups for boys and girls.
Education
Wisbech's two secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s (11-18) are the comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
Thomas Clarkson Community College (formerly the Queen's School, which itself was the amalgamation of the Queen's Girls' and Queen's Boys' schools), and the independent
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
Wisbech Grammar School
Wisbech Grammar School
Wisbech Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire for students ages 11 to 18. Founded by the Wisbech Guild of the Holy Trinity in 1379, it is one of the oldest schools in the country. The present headmaster is N.J.G. Hammond, a member of the Headmasters' and...
, which was founded in 1379, making it one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom.
Primary schools in Wisbech include; Clarkson Infants, St Peters Juniors, The Orchards, Peckover, Nene Infants, Ramnoth Junior School and Elm Road County Primary School. There is also a school for children with special learning needs, Meadowgate School. There is also a further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
centre, the College of West Anglia
College of West Anglia
The College of West Anglia is a college of further education in Norfolk, England. Founded in 1894 as the King's Lynn Technical School in the port town of King's Lynn, Norfolk...
formerly the Isle of Ely College, in the town. Many find that after seeking higher education the area is unable to offer suitable employment and subsequently many are forced to move from the area.
Sport
The local footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team is Wisbech Town Football Club
Wisbech Town F.C.
Wisbech Town F.C. is an English football club currently based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Fenland Stadium.-History:...
, nicknamed The Fenmen. Other sports clubs include Wisbech Rugby Union Football Club, Wisbech Tennis Club, Wisbech Cricket Club (who have an annual fixture with the M.C.C. - Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
), Wisbech Hockey Club, Wisbech Squash Club, Wisbech Swimming Club and a number of martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
clubs.
The "Nine Mile River Swim" between Wisbech and Sutton Bridge
Sutton Bridge
Sutton Bridge is a village and civil parish in southeastern Lincolnshire, England on the west bank of the River Nene in the district of South Holland.-Geography:...
in the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
was won four times in the 1930s by Ernie (Bunny) Bunning. When the swim was moved to the swimming pool as a 220 yard race David Bunning, his son, won the cup four times in the 1960s.
Notable buildings
- Peckover HousePeckover House & GardenPeckover House & Garden is a National Trust property located in North Brink, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England.Peckover House was built in 1722 and bought by Jonathan Peckover at the end of the 18th century. Alexander Peckover was created Baron Peckover of Wisbech in 1907...
(1722; owned by the National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural BeautyThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
)
- Thomas Clarkson MemorialClarkson MemorialThe Clarkson Memorial in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England commemorates Thomas Clarkson , a central figure in the campaign against the slave trade in the British empire, and a former native of Wisbech....
(1881)
- Richard Young MP Memorial (1871) sited in Wisbech Park.
- St Peter and St Paul's Parish Church. There are some pictures and a description of the church at the Cambridgeshire Churches website.
- St Mary's Parish church, also on the Cambridgeshire Churches website.
- Octavia HillOctavia HillOctavia Hill was an English social reformer, whose main concern was the welfare of the inhabitants of cities, especially London, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Born into a family with a strong commitment to alleviating poverty, she herself grew up in straitened circumstances owing...
Birthplace Museum where she was born before the family's move to London.
- Wisbech & Fenland MuseumWisbech & Fenland MuseumThe Wisbech & Fenland Museum, located in the town of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, England, is one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the United Kingdom. The Museum Society was founded in 1835 and the present building was opened in 1847....
; extensive collections of local records and other items. Notable artifacts include: Napoleon's SèvresManufacture nationale de SèvresThe manufacture nationale de Sèvres is a Frit porcelain porcelain tendre factory at Sèvres, France. Formerly a royal, then an imperial factory, the facility is now run by the Ministry of Culture.-Brief history:...
breakfast service, said to have been captured at the Battle of WaterlooBattle of WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
; Thomas ClarksonThomas ClarksonThomas Clarkson , was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended British trade in slaves...
's chest, containing examples of 18th century African textiles, seeds and leatherwork which he used to illustrate his case for direct trade with Africa; and the original manuscript of Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' Great ExpectationsGreat ExpectationsGreat Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times....
. The manuscript can be viewed on the first Saturday of each month.
- Elgood's Brewery; The brewery was founded in 1795, and bought soon after by the Elgood family. It is a traditional brewery, but produces less than some modern micro-breweries, with output at around 90-100 barrels per week. The beers produced include: "Black Dog Mild", "Golden Newt", "Cambridge Bitter, "Greyhound Strong Bitter", "Old Smoothie Mild", "Old Smoothie Bitter", "Brookes Ale", "Reinbeer" and "Jingle Ale". Recently the brewery has won the Champion Beer of Britain award for its Cambridge Bitter. The brewery is also known for its gardens, which are open to the public.
Notable people
- William GodwinWilliam GodwinWilliam Godwin was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism...
, (born in Wisbech, 3 March 1756 – 7 April 1836) was an English political writer and novelist, considered one of the important precursors of both utilitarian and liberal anarchist thought. He first married Mary Wollstonecroft. One of his daughters Mary Wollstonecroft Godwin became Mary ShelleyMary ShelleyMary Shelley was a British novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus . She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley...
, the famed author of FrankensteinFrankensteinFrankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
. - Joseph MedworthJoseph MedworthJoseph Medworth the son of Simon Medworth a ropemaker and Anna Lampson was born in Wisbech in 1752.He married Sarah Fisher in 1775 at Wisbech St.Peter church.He moved to London and became a bricklayer and returned to Wisbech in 1793....
, (born in Wisbech, 1752 - 1827) was a builder and carried out the development of 'The Crescent' in Wisbech and the redeveopment of 'Thurloe's' Mansion' into the current villa on the 'Castle' site. - William SkrimshireWilliam SkrimshireWilliam Skrimshire , was a surgeon and botanist.174 botanical specimens he collected including Origanum vulgare are held in the Wisbech and Fenland Museum....
, (born in Wisbech, 1766–1829) was a surgeon-botanist. - Richard Young (1809–1871), MP (ship owner), Mayor of Wisbech 1858-62, one of the Sheriffs of the city of LondonCity of LondonThe City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
1871. - William Digby, (born in Wisbech, 1 May 1849 – 29 September 1904) was an English writer, journalist and liberal politician. He was the first secretary of the National Liberal ClubNational Liberal ClubThe National Liberal Club, known to its members as the NLC, is a London gentlemen's club, now also open to women, which was established by William Ewart Gladstone in 1882 for the purpose of providing club facilities for Liberal Party campaigners among the newly-enlarged electorate after the Third...
. - Thomas ClarksonThomas ClarksonThomas Clarkson , was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended British trade in slaves...
, the anti-slavery campaigner, was born in Wisbech in 1760 and educated at Wisbech Grammar SchoolWisbech Grammar SchoolWisbech Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire for students ages 11 to 18. Founded by the Wisbech Guild of the Holy Trinity in 1379, it is one of the oldest schools in the country. The present headmaster is N.J.G. Hammond, a member of the Headmasters' and...
. The Clarkson MemorialClarkson MemorialThe Clarkson Memorial in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England commemorates Thomas Clarkson , a central figure in the campaign against the slave trade in the British empire, and a former native of Wisbech....
was built to commemorate his life ending slavery in the British Empire on March 25, 1833. - John ClarksonJohn Clarkson (abolitionist)Lieutenant John Clarkson, RN was the younger brother of Thomas Clarkson, one of the central figures in the abolition of slavery in England and the British Empire at the close of the 18th century...
, younger brother of Thomas, another key figure in the BritishGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
abolitionist movement. He organised the voluntary migration of former slaves, freed by the British as part of a deal to reward their loyalty to the CrownThe CrownThe Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
during the American War of Independence, to Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneSierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, where he became governorGovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
. - William HazlittWilliam HazlittWilliam Hazlitt was an English writer, remembered for his humanistic essays and literary criticism, and as a grammarian and philosopher. He is now considered one of the great critics and essayists of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. Yet his work is...
, essayist and philosopher most noted for My First Acquaintance with Poets was a pastor in Wisbech in 1764, and married there in 1766. - The sisters MirandaMiranda HillMiranda Hill was an English social reformer. She worked closely, from 1891, with her more famous sister Octavia Hill on major housing reform projects in England. She was the daughter of James Hill, corn merchant and banker, and Caroline Southwood Smith, the daughter of Dr Thomas Southwood Smith,...
and Octavia HillOctavia HillOctavia Hill was an English social reformer, whose main concern was the welfare of the inhabitants of cities, especially London, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Born into a family with a strong commitment to alleviating poverty, she herself grew up in straitened circumstances owing...
, both born at Wisbech. Miranda founded the influential Kyrle Society, a progenitor of the National Trust. Social reformer Octavia was co-founder of the National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural BeautyThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. - Alexander Peckover (banker) (16 August 1830 - 21 October 1919) Baron PeckoverBaron PeckoverBaron Peckover, of Wisbech in the County of Cambridge, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 July 1907 for the banker and philanthropist Alexander Peckover, 1st Baron Peckover. He was Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire from 1894 to 1907...
of Wisbech. Lord Lieutenant of CambridgeshireLord Lieutenant of CambridgeshireThis is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representative in the counties of the United Kingdom. The Lord Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants which he or...
1893-1906. - Sir Harry Kroto, 1996 Nobel Laureate in chemistry, for the discovery of fullerenes.
- Anton RodgersAnton RodgersAnton Rodgers was an English actor and occasional director. He performed on stage, in film and in television dramas and sitcoms.-Life and career:...
(1933–2007), actor, was born in Wisbech. - Jill Freud (born 1927), actress (and wife of Sir Clement Freud MP for Isle of Ely 1973-87) founded 'Jill Freud and Company' whilst working with the Angles Theatre in 1980.
- Rev. W. AwdreyW.V. AwdryWilbert Vere Awdry, OBE , was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, better known as the Reverend W. Awdry and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.-Life:Awdry was born at Ampfield vicarage near Romsey, Hampshire in 1911...
(June 15, 1911 - March 21, 1997)(the creator of Thomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank EngineThomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
was Vicar of EmnethEmnethEmneth is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is west of Norwich, south-west of King's Lynn and north of London. The nearest town is Wisbech which is north-north-west of the village. The Village lies to the south-west of the route of the A47 between...
, 1953-65. Toby the Tram EngineToby the Tram EngineToby the Tram Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tram engine in The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son, Christopher; he also appears in the spin-off television series Thomas and Friends...
, one of the Rev. W. Awdrey's characters, is based on the small steam trams that used to transport farm produce on the Strawberry LineWisbech and Upwell TramwayThe Wisbech and Upwell Tramway was a rural standard gauge tramway in East Anglia. It was built by the Great Eastern Railway between Wisbech, Cambridgeshire and Upwell, Norfolk to carry agricultural produce. Although called a tram, in many ways it more closely resembled a conventional railway...
between Wisbech and UpwellUpwellUpwell is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 2,456 in 1,033 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk...
. - John GordonJohn Gordon (author)John Gordon is an English writer of adolescent supernatural fiction. He is the author of fifteen fantasy novels , four short story collections, over fifty short stories and a teenage memoir....
, adolescent fiction writer and author of The Giant Under The SnowThe Giant Under The SnowThe Giant Under The Snow is a children's fantasy adventure novel by John Gordon. First published in 1968 the story tells the tale of three school friends who discover an ancient treasure and become embroiled in the final act of an epic battle of good against evil...
, grew up in Wisbech. The town and the surrounding fensThe FensThe Fens, also known as the , are a naturally marshy region in eastern England. Most of the fens were drained several centuries ago, resulting in a flat, damp, low-lying agricultural region....
provided inspiration for many of his novels, including: The House on the Brink (Peckover House); and Fen Runners. - Jesse PyeJesse PyeJesse Pye was an English footballer. He played in the Football League for , and and scored twice in the 1949 FA Cup Final for the former....
. Professional football player, who scored two goals in 1949 FA Cup Final1949 FA Cup FinalThe 1949 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium. Wolves finished 6th in the First Division during that season, and boasted several England internationals among their ranks, while Leicester City had struggled to avoid relegation in the Second...
, and who represented England at international level, became player-manager for Wisbech Town F.C.Wisbech Town F.C.Wisbech Town F.C. is an English football club currently based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Fenland Stadium.-History:...
from 1960–1966. He scored the goal that knocked Colchester United out of the first round of the FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in the 1959/60 season. - Tony MartinTony Martin (farmer)Anthony Edward "Tony" Martin is a farmer from Norfolk, England, who in 1999 killed one burglar and wounded another who had both entered his home...
who, while living in an isolated Norfolk farmhouse just outside Wisbech, gained notoriety for shooting and killing one of two young men, both from a travellersEnglish TravellersThe term English Travellers refers to certain groups of ethnic nomads, and may mean:* Romanichals, or English Gypsies of Romani origin* Irish Travellers, living in the United Kingdom* New Age travellers in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s...
' community, who were burgling his home one night. Although he was convicted of murder, he became something of a local celebrity as a symbol of rough justice. - Mark WheatMark WheatMark Wheat is an English disc jockey working at the Minnesota Public Radio station KCMP where he provides one of the outlet's unique voices because of his accent. Wheat grew up in the small town of Clenchwarton, near King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, where he dreamed of becoming a radio host while...
, radio host on The CurrentKCMP-WCAL:The station began with physics experiments in 1918 when five students and a professor built a small radio transmitter at St. Olaf College. Using a wire antenna strung between the campus chapel and the college's "Old Main" , signals from these experiments were picked up as far away as New...
from Minnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
, born in Wisbech. - Joe PerryJoe Perry (snooker player)-External links:*...
(born 13 August 1974 in Wisbech) - snooker player. - Russell Arthur MissinRussell Arthur MissinRussell Arthur Missin was an English cathedral organist, who served in Newcastle Cathedral.-Background:He was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire on 15 July 1922...
born 1922 - Organist and Master of the Choristers at Newcastle CathedralNewcastle CathedralSt Nicholas's Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Its full title is The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas Newcastle upon Tyne...
.
In film and television
Wisbech is noted for its unspoilt Georgian architectureGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, particularly along North Brink and The Crescent. It has been used in BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's 1999 adaptation
David Copperfield (1999 film)
David Copperfield is a two part BBC television drama adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel David Copperfield, adapted by Adrian Hodges. The first part was shown on Christmas Day and the second on Boxing Day in 1999...
of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' David Copperfield
David Copperfield (novel)
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery , commonly referred to as David Copperfield, is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens, first published as a novel in 1850. Like most of his works, it originally appeared in serial...
and ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's Micawber, starring David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
. A "Wisbech Rock Festival" appears in the film Still Crazy
Still Crazy
Still Crazy is a 1998 comedy film about a fictional 1970s rock band named "Strange Fruit", who, after being split up for several decades, are persuaded to get back together to perform at a reunion of the same concert venue where they played their last gig...
. The 2008 feature film Dean Spanley
Dean Spanley
Dean Spanley is a 2008 New Zealand and British comedy-drama film, with fantastic elements, from Miramax Films, Atlantic Film Group and General Film Corporation , directed by Fijian New Zealander Toa Fraser...
starring Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
was largely filmed in Wisbech.
Wisbech in the news
There are two free newspapers distributed within the town, the Wisbech Standard (owned by ArchantArchant
Archant is a publishing company, based in Norwich, England, United Kingdom. The group publishes four daily newspapers, around 75 weekly newspapers, and 75 consumer and contract magazines....
) and the Fenland Citizen.
The Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
store in Cromwell Road was one of three stores (the other two being in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
) chosen to run an initial trial of the Clubcard
Tesco Clubcard
Tesco Clubcard is the loyalty card of leading British supermarket chain Tesco. The Clubcard scheme operates in the UK, Ireland, Poland and several other countries, and in the UK market in particular has been highly successful, with over 15 million members as of 2010.-History:In 1993 Terry Leahy...
loyalty card. The trial ran from October 1993 and due to the success of this trial, the Clubcard programme was rolled out nationwide in February 1995.
The "rabbits on the roundabout" caused considerable discussion. A number of rabbits took up residence on a town centre roundabout, causing damage to the flowers and shrubs. Locals compounded the issue by dumping piles of salad 'seconds' on the roundabout for the rabbits to eat. Despite calls to remove the rabbits, local opposition prevailed. The rabbits remained, much to the humour of outside observers. The roundabout has now been landscaped with maritime 'rabbit-friendly' features to link to the nearby riverside redevelopment. Since then, an outbreak of myxomatosis
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a disease that affects rabbits and is caused by the Myxoma virus. It was first observed in Uruguay in laboratory rabbits in the late 19th century. It was introduced into Australia in 1950 in an attempt to control the rabbit population...
took hold of the 'Wisbech warren', and killed many of the animals. A pest control company removed the rest. Rabbits are now conspicuous by their absence from the roundabout, which remains professionally landscaped.
According to a study looking into immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
patterns, Wisbech was once identified as the seventh "most English" town in Britain by Sky News However, on 16 February 2008 a report in the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
titled "Death Of A Country Idyll" wrote about how the influx of Eastern European immigrants may have caused the increase of crime and other illegal activities. Then on 20 February 2008 The Fenland Citizen contained an article opposing the Daily Express article.
Climate
Like the rest of the United Kingdom, it experiences an oceanic climate but Cambridgeshire is one of the driest counties in the British Isles along with Essex. February is the driest month, while October is the wettest month. In temperature terms, both January and December is the coldest month, while August is the warmest month.External links
- Fenland & West Norfolk Aviation Preservation Society
- Wisbech Town Cricket Club
- The Angles Theatre
- 2001 Census
- River Nene through Wisbech, from source to mouth.
- Fenland Citizen Web site of local newspaper
- Fenland District Council District councils web site
- The Wisbech Society & Preservation Trust
- Thomas Clarkson Community College
- Wisbech Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society (WAODS)
- Wisbech Players
- Octavia Hill Birthplace House