The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-16 00:00:00

THE GREAT FLOOD 1N THE FENS.

The hill-country public, accustomed to only occa-
sional overflows of brooks and the winter flooding
of river margin meadows, can have no idea of the
dismay and consternation which have fallen upon a
large portion of the Fen population, through the
disaster to the middle level sluice. The great plain
of peat fens and marine marshes, stretching 70
miles from Lincoln almost to Cambridge, with an
area of nearly 700,000 acres, lies so low and hori.
zontal that its surface is beneath the level of the sea
at high water, though above the datum line of low
water mark. On the map it appears like an en-
largement of the great bay of the Wash ; and a
shallow inland bay it would be if the ocean were not
held out by massive barrier banks. The Ouse, Nene,
and other large rivers, bringing down the drainage
of an upland tract five times larger than the Fen
plain itself, have reached the sea level when they
enter this district, and are conducted across it (a
distance of 20 to 35 miles) between lofty embank-
ments, which give the surface of the sluggish
streams a fall of some few inches per mile. The
downfall or drain-water of the flat land is collected
and carried to the seaward channels and estuaries
in artificial cuts, issuing through sluices having
valve-doors, which exclude the rising tide, but open
when this has fallen below the head of drain-water
inside. So that (excepting a few insular high
lands) the whole of this immense district of rich
land in the highest state of cultivation, with its
crops, flocks, herds, its farmyards, innumerable vil-
lages, and thickly-peopled towns, exists upon the
ability of its banks to withstand the hydrostatic
pressure of high-rising fresh waters and the assault
of stormy spring tides, and also upon the security
of the capacious sluices which pour out its drainage
into the large tidal rivers. In the present acci-
dent of the bursting of an important sluice the
consequences are already extensive and alarming.
and the danger of most widespread ruin is becoming
painfully apparent. The site of the sluice is four
miles south of Lynn, at the junction of the middle
level main drain with the broad and deep Ouse;
and this drain is a straight cut from the sluice 11
miles in a south-western direction to the district
of the middle level, 140,000 acres in extent,
of which it is the main artery and outfall. But the
tract of country flanking the cut for 11 miles above
the sluice does not drain through the cut, having
outfalls of its own into the Ouse, and this neutral
district is at present the greatest sufferer. Three to
four miles from the destroyed sluice, the west bank
of the cut gave way, precipitating the rapidly in-
flowing tide upon the fen land ; and though some of
the minor holes were cleverly taken or stopped up
with sacks of earth, the main breach continues open,
being on Tuesday 40 yards in width. Such is the
volume of water pouring through this gap that on
Tuesday night the extent of ground inundated was
estimated at 15,000 scree, and two tides since then
have probably spread the deluge over 20,000 acres.
The districts at present flooded are Marshland Fen,
the Smeeth, Broad and Short Fens, and parts of
Magdalen Fen and Bardolph Fen. Farmyards are
full of water, the straw floating about ; barns have
been hastily cleared of grain, and, where possible,
ricks of wheat and beans are being carted to the
higher spots of ground about the Marshland vil-
lages. Here also the sheep and cattle from the
is to b
threatened or drowned fens have been collected.
home,
have been driven at short notice from their
Nvallsuaenn
vegetables.
ms
bmeer
s; movingother
others
theirbe downstairsing abl e
to
carry
o furnitureff intom o s t
the rneehs
part of their moveables in carts, and house after
house -
pollard, willow,
wetting e see.n withthe
door-handles,
hs lappingan d at
whilet h ebri
hedgeck
()ate the site of the garden and its submerged
tops
and on the outskoirr
Where the flood is deepest the rows of
you see fine wheat haneadt thornbete.sr
aon ofs
beans, ridges
he bushesbright
hand s thehee t
ot of bars
water
of gates indicate where enclosures of cropping lie ;
with their rank green flags,
forward
where the potatoes
nows half prepared for
are but lately planted,
sowing'-over all of which the
d
marigold
wateriandosteadily
oaycreeping turnip
11 killing all with its