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Archiver > ENGLISH-FENS > 1998-04 > 0891449865


From: Warren Hudson <>
Subject: RE: Draining the Fens
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 10:57:45 -0600


Hello Carol,
Would you possibly know of any books or records that might give
the locations of where the workers were hired from for the Fens
project?
Best regards,
Warren Hudson

----------
From: C. J. Markillie
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 1998 10:00 AM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Draining the Fens

Hi, Graham:
Thanks for the info and passing the torch - I'm not an expert on the
drainage, I've just done a good bit of research on it before I transferred
my focus to the Celts in Belgica. But I'll get back to the fens eventually.
Speaking of Fen Tigers, did you know that Queen Elizabeth was so impressed
with the fenmen's abilities to run through the water after cattle on 8ft
and 12ft stilts that she sent a group of them to the Netherlands to fight
in the war.
As you know, Graham, there were several different areas and projects going
on consecutively - people would invest and then the project would fail or
never "get off the ground". In Cambridgeshire, the Great Level of the fens
first called the Bedford Level contained upwards of 300,000 acres of marsh
land "passing their waters by 3 ancient rivers, the Nene, the Ouze, and the
Welland". In 1630, after an ineffectual attempt on the part of King James
I, Francis, 1st Earl of Bedford contracted for the work, which was reduced
to 83,000 acres. He hired Cornelius Vermuyden a Dutchman who had been
working at draining Hatfield Chase, Lincolnshire, and he in turn hired
Dutch, Flemish, French, and English men to work at the drainage - later
Scottish prisoners of war were sent into the fens to help with the
drainage. There were probably people from Germany and other areas of Europe
who knew drainage work. It is a very complicated story and difficult to put
into an e-mail posting. If anyone would like a list of books on the
subject, I would be glad to supply it.
"I sing no Battels fought, nor armies foil'd,
Nor cities raz'd, nor Commonwealth embroil'd,
Nor any history, which may move your tears,
Or raise your Spleens, or multiply your Fears;
But I bespeak your wonder, your delight,
And would your Emulation fain invite.

I sing Floods muzzled, and the Ocean tam'd,
Luxurious rivers govern'd, and reclaim'd,
Waters with banks confin'd as in a Gaol,
Till kinder Sluices let them go on Bail;
Streams curb'd with Dammes like Bridles
taught t'obey,
And run as strait; as if they saw their way.
- Samuel Fortrey (1685)

Regards -
Carol Markillie

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