drainage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡lowland¡¡district¡¡traversed¡¡by¡¡both¡¡the¡¡Old
and¡¡New¡¡Nene¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed¡¡the¡¡sands¡¡were¡¡accumulating¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡rate£»
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determined¡¡to¡¡employ¡¡another¡¡engineer£»¡¡and¡¡Mr¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡selected
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improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡immediately¡¡adjacent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of
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Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡confirmed¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie's¡¡views¡¡to¡¡a¡¡large¡¡extent£»¡¡more
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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
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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
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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
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consisted¡¡principally¡¡of¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡cut¡¡or¡¡canal£»¡¡about¡¡six¡¡miles¡¡in
length£»¡¡penetrating¡¡far¡¡through¡¡the¡¡sand¡¡banks¡¡into¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡waters
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1830£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡satisfactory¡¡results¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡greatly¡¡improved
outfall¡¡was¡¡secured¡¡by¡¡thus¡¡carrying¡£¡¡¡¡the¡¡mouths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rivers¡¡out
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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
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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¡£
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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
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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£§
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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
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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£º¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨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¡£¡¡¡¡Projecting¡¡from¡¡the¡¡piers¡¡and¡¡abutments¡¡are¡¡pilasters
of¡¡solid¡¡masonry¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡main¡¡arches¡¡have¡¡their¡¡springing¡¡70¡¡feet¡¡from
the¡¡foundations¡¡and¡¡rise¡¡30¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡20¡¡feet¡¡higher£»¡¡other
arches£»¡¡of¡¡96¡¡feet¡¡span¡¡and¡¡10¡¡feet¡¡rise£»¡¡are¡¡constructed£»¡¡the¡¡face
of¡¡these£»¡¡projecting¡¡before¡¡the¡¡main¡¡arches¡¡and¡¡spandrels£»
producing¡¡a¡¡distinct¡¡external¡¡soffit¡¡of¡¡5¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡breadth¡£
This£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡peculiar¡¡piers£»¡¡constitutes¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡distinctive
feature¡¡in¡¡the£»¡¡bridge¡£
*£§3£§¡¡¡¨The¡¡Nene¡¡Outfall¡¡channel£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Tycho¡¡Wing£»
¡¨was¡¡projected¡¡by¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Rennie¡¡in¡¡1814£»¡¡and¡¡executed¡¡jointly
by¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡and¡¡the¡¡present¡¡Sir¡¡John¡¡Rennie¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡scheme¡¡of
the¡¡North¡¡Level¡¡Drainage¡¡was¡¡eminently¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford£»
and¡¡was¡¡undertaken¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡advice¡¡and¡¡responsibility£»¡¡when¡¡only¡¡a
few¡¡persons¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Nene¡¡Outfall¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡latter
could¡¡be¡¡made£»¡¡or¡¡if¡¡made£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡maintained¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford
distinguished¡¡himself¡¡by¡¡his¡¡foresight¡¡and¡¡judicious¡¡counsels¡¡at
the¡¡most¡¡critical¡¡periods¡¡of¡¡that¡¡great¡¡measure£»¡¡by¡¡his¡¡unfailing
confidence¡¡in¡¡its¡¡success£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡boldness¡¡and¡¡sagacity¡¡which
prompted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡advise¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North¡¡Level¡¡drainage£»¡¡in
full¡¡expectation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡results¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Nene
Outfall¡¡was¡¡undertaken£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡are¡¡now¡¡realised¡¡to¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡of
the¡¡most¡¡sanguine¡¡hopes¡£¡¨
*£§4£§¡¡Now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡land¡¡actually¡¡won¡¡has¡¡been¡¡made¡¡so¡¡richly
productive£»¡¡the¡¡engineer¡¡is¡¡at¡¡work¡¡with¡¡magnificent¡¡schemes¡¡of
reclamation¡¡of¡¡lands¡¡at¡¡present¡¡submerged¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Norfolk
Estuary¡¡Company¡¡have¡¡a¡¡scheme¡¡for¡¡reclaiming¡¡50£»000¡¡acres£»¡¡the
Lincolnshire¡¡Estuary¡¡Company£»¡¡30£»000¡¡acres£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Victoria¡¡Level
Company£»¡¡150£»000¡¡acresall¡¡from¡¡the¡¡estuary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Wash¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡the
process¡¡called¡¡warping£»¡¡the¡¡land¡¡is¡¡steadily¡¡advancing¡¡upon¡¡the
ocean£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡many¡¡years¡¡have¡¡passed£»¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡acres¡¡of¡¡the
Victoria¡¡Level¡¡will¡¡have¡¡been¡¡reclaimed¡¡for¡¡purposes¡¡of
agriculture¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XIV¡£
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