wisbech, england - photographs
In July, 2009, Russ Mason and his wife Jennie Fields visited Wisbech and took these pictures.
These five are of Wisbech Park...
These eight are of St.Peter's Church and Gardens...
These four are of the Wisbech Museum, which included an exhibit of items from the 19th Century workhouse...
Left: A September 4th, 1854 photograph by Samuel Smith of the old workhouse, built 1720-1722 and replaced around 1835, after which it was sub-divided into smaller premises including the custom house.
According to St. Peter's Church burial records, it appears that John Howard (1753-1827) was in the workhouse at the time of his death on October 26th, 1827.
These four: the B&B where Russ & Jennie stayed, the town center and the bridge over the River Nene...
And two plaques...
Where these Vaults are erected stood the ancient Castle of Wisbech. Built by Will. the Conqueror A.D 1071. In 1236 it was destroyed by an Inundation of the Sea. It was rebuilt by Cardinal Morton Bishop of Ely. In the Reign of Eliz. it was used as a Prison. In 1793 Joseph Medworth purchased the Castle, with its appurtenances, and in 1815, took down the Castle, for the completeing his Plan of Streets and Houses on the Premises.
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In the first quarter of the 19th century, Wisbech was a prosperous port trading primarily with the Baltic. From 1805-1825 port trade more than doubled from about 30,000 tons to 70,000 tons per annum. The agricultural produce from the rich Fenland soil came along a system of inland waterways, and was exported via ships that returned loaded with timber, stone and other commodities.
Ships berthed here on the River Nene in the centre of town, off loading their cargoes directly into the warehouses and granaries along the quay both here and opposite. As many as forty sailing ships could be seen in the port at any one time with tugboats moored to posts in the middle of the river ready to tow them back out to sea. |