The Draining of the Fens

About this book

First published in 1956, as the second edition of a 1940 original, The Draining of the Fens forms the companion volume to Medieval Fenland. Together these volumes provide a consummately researched account of changing conditions within a fascinating region. The text is ambitious in scope, reflecting the author's position as a historical geographer, and covers a broad range of disciplinary perspectives, ranging from geology to socio-economic analysis. Numerous illustrative figures are contained, including maps, diagrams and photographs of the area, and a bibliography is also provided. Detailed, yet highly readable, The Draining of the Fens will be of value to anyone with an interest in Fenland history and historical geography in general.

Contents

Editor's preface
Preface
Preface to CUPLE reprint
List of maps and diagrams
List of plates

Part I. The Prelude to the Draining, 1500-1600
1. The dissolution of the monarchies
2. Preliminary experiments in draining

Part II. The Fen Project, 1600-63
3. Draining activity before the Civil War
4. Arguments, replies and disorders
5. Draining activity after the Civil War

Part III. The Consequences of the Draining
6. Outfall difficulties
7. The lowering of the surface of the Fens
8. The windmill

Part IV. The Eighteenth Century: The Age of the Windmill
9. The southern Fenland
10. The northern Fenland
11. Economic activity

Part V. The Nineteenth Century: Triumphs and Difficulties
12. The tidal rivers and their outfalls
13. Administrative problems
14. The steam-engine
15. Agricultural consequences; Part VI

Epilogue: Conditions after 1900
Appendices
Sources and bibliography
Index

Customer Reviews