Museum Square, Wisbech, Cambs PE13 1ES | Tel: 01945 583817

Wisbech Through the Ages 1800-1900

"Wisbech, lying further up the arm of the sea than Lynn, is, like the latter, a little town of commerce...a good solid town, though not handsome, and has a large market, particularly for corn" diary of William Cobbett 1830

During the nineteenth century a number of major private building schemes began. These included Joseph Medworth's development of the Crescent and his construction of the existing villa on the site of Thurloe's Mansion (Wisbech Castle) in the early 1800's. Wisbech Pleasure Ground (the Park) was opened in 1873, encouraging the development of near by roads including Clarkson Avenue. In 1851 10,178 people were living in the town. 1840 view of the Nene River looking south from the Nene Parade area.

 

 
 

Public works included a new gaol built on the South Brink in 1807 (moved to Victoria Road in 1846 and closed in 1878), a new workhouse opened in 1835 and the North Cambridgeshire Cottage Hospital opened in 1873. Three new burial grounds were created and a number of churches and schools built. Gas came to the town in the 1830's and Wisbech waterworks was opened in 1865. A New post office was built in 1887.

The old stone bridge across the Nene was removed in 1855 and replaced by an iron swing bridge. The navigation of the river continued to be a problem and various improvement schemes were started including the Nene Outfall works.

By 1866 foreign trade was described as in "a flourishing state" with large volumes of goods passing through the town. Between 1845 and 1847 customs duties increased from £7,000 to £25,000 reflecting improved levels of trade, a considerable proportion of which was in timber used for railway construction.

The first railway service to Wisbech (from St. Ives via March) began in 1847, with a connection to Kings Lynn the following year. A tramway between Wisbech and Outwell (later extended to Upwell) was opened in 1883 to carry soft fruit destined for markets in London and Leeds. A number of new streets developed around the railway lines and stations such as Wisbech East (off Victoria Road).

Merchants and bankers were attracted into the town and new banks were built on North Brink and in the Old Market, which remained the banking and farming centre for the town. A new Corn Exchange and Town Hall was opened in 1858 and a cattle market in 1869.

The cultural life of the town was reflected by the opening of the Museum & Literary Institution in 1847 and the commemoration of the Clarkson memorial in November 1881. A Working Mens Institute was established in Hill Street in 1864, attracting a membership of over two thousand.

 

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