Wisbech

52.6650.16166666666667Koordinaten: 52 ° 40 'N, 0 ° 10' O

Wisbech ([' wɪzbiʧ ] ) is a small market town and port in the English county of Cambridgeshire in East Central England (East Anglia), near the coast of the bay, The Wash. It counts 21,010 inhabitants (as of 2006) and belongs to the district of Fenland. It is drained by the River Nene, who has caused by the strong tidal pronounced high and low water.

Origin of the name

Previously, the place was much closer to the coast, the conditionally withdrew over the centuries and through large-surface drainage measures and on. Possible origin of the city's name are the names for a "white beach " ( white beach ) or perhaps " Ouse beach" ( now the beach which opens at Kings Lynn River Great Ouse. )

History

The urban area of ​​Wisbech was early colonized by the Romans, who have left traces of their hydraulic engineering with the now walk novel Dyke. Later, the East of England was inhabited by Germanic tribes. After the conquest of England by the Normans (from 1066) here was a fortress, from where you tried the uprisings of the Anglo-Saxon population quell ( Hereward the Wake ). In 1478 a bishop's palace was built at the same location. Still is, the location of the 1816 -built in the Regency style large mansion " The Castle ". The surrounding Georgian buildings " The Crescent " stands even today after the outlines of the former moat of the original castle.

According to legend, also arrested the Parliament assassin Guy Fawkes was imprisoned in the castle. He was taken through an underground tunnel to a pier on the nearby River Nene, from where he was taken to his place of execution by ship.

Strong influence by the newly arrived from Holland drainage experts, the dry laid with the help of windmills and dikes much of the previously swampy lowland eastern England during the 16th and 17th centuries. Still a neighboring part of the country is commonly referred to as " Holland " and the neighboring Spalding has long been a center of the tulip cultivation.

The surrounding area of Wisbech is dominated by fruit and vegetable cultivation, the black soil of the drained area is considered very fertile and productive. For this reason, many companies settled in the early 20th century, which produced canned.

The port used to play a large role in the import of timber from Germany and the Baltic region. Meanwhile you try to switch the port mode to tourism.

Attractions

Worth to see the Georgian Ensemble The Crescent and the unassuming from the outside Peckover House, built in 1722 by the Quaker Jonathan Peckover, with beautiful gardens, which is since 1948 owned by the National Trust. Furthermore, the medieval Church of St. Peter & St. Paul from the late 12th century with the leaning tower. The Elgood Brewery is known for the good beer.

Personalities

  • Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846), fought in the early 19th century for the Abolition of Slavery ( Clarkson Memorial on the banks of the Nene )
  • Octavia Hill (1838-1912), fought at the end of the 19th century for better living conditions of the poor; Co-founder of the National Trust.
  • William Godwin (1756-1836), founder of socialism and political anarchism.
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