Wisbech is a market town in the Cambridgeshire Fenlands. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of town and two bridges cross this in town.
Wisbech Castle was built by William I, to fortify the town. It was to become a notorious prison in Tudor times. The castle has been rebuilt twice, in the middle of the 17th century and the early 1800’s.
A Brewery was founded in the town in 1795 and was soon bought by the Elgood’s, to become Elgood & Sons Ltd Brewery. It is a traditional type brewery but produces somewhat less than the modern breweries at only between ninety and one hundred barrels a week. They produce many types of ale and recently won for their Cambridge Bitter, Champion Beer of Britain.
Wisbech is on the borders of Norfolk, close to the sea and has access by the navigable River Nene. Vessels of up to three thousand tons can use the port. During the last one hundred and fifty years the wharfs have been greatly improved.
The main trade is the importation of timber and general merchandise and exports include coal, corn and general merchandise.
The town has a shopping area with such stores as Woolworth and Peacocks and smaller shops including Uniq Clothing, Gowns, Kalis, Rosalinds, Fashion Wheel, Local Ladz and Evisons.
Around the area are grown strawberries and other soft fruit, apples, pears and plums, also potatoes and asparagus. Flowers are also widely grown. Other trades in the area include saw and plane mills, breweries and printing offices.
Property for rent in the area is available at average costs of £500pcm for a 2 bed house and £475 for a l bed house.
The Angles Theatre is a professional theatre run mostly by volunteers and have the backing of such stars as Derek Jacobi, Jo Brand and Cameron Mackintosh.
The amateur dramatic group The Wisbech Players perform plays twice a year in the Angles Theatre. They have been performing in town for well over fifty years.
Wisbech museaum is well known for artefacts that include Napoleon’s Sevres breakfast services, this is said to have been stolen during the battle of Waterloo, the original, Dickens, Great Expectations manuscript and Thomas Clarkson’s chest that contains 18th century African textiles and leatherwork.
Wisbech caters well for the town’s youth with an Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Sea Cadets, Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets, Fire Cadets and St. John’s Ambulance Cadets. Also many scouting groups are in town for both girls and boys.
Sport features highly in the area with facilities for rugby, football, cricket, hockey, squash, martial arts and swimming.
The nine-mile river swim from Wisbech to Sutton Bridge in the River Nene was an annual event until the 1960’s when it moved to the swimming pool to become a two hundred and twenty yard race.
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