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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
to sea； and the drainage of the important agricultural districts
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
of improvements which eventually included the whole of the valuable
lands of the North Level； in the district situated between the Nene
and the Welland。 The opening at Gunthorpe Sluice； which was the
outfall for the waters of the Holland Drain； was not less than
eleven feet three inches above low water at Crab…Hole； and it was
therefore obvious that by lowering this opening a vastly improved
drainage of the whole of the level district； extending from twenty
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。
A new cut was made from Clow's Cross to Gunthorpe Sluice； in place
of the winding course of the old Shire Drain； besides which； a
bridge was erected at Cross Keys； or Sutton Wash； and an embankment
was made across the Salt Marshes； forming a high road； which； with
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
been very ineffectually though expensively cleared of the surplus
water by means of windmills and steam…engines。 The productiveness
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＇
We may mention； as a remarkable effect of the opening of the new
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
was Sunday morningthat 〃the waters were running！〃 when
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：…
〃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
agricultur