Wisbech Mini Guide

marked by a blue plaque. blue a by marked of the Norman Castle. Norman the of

lived nearby at 8 York Row, which is is which Row, York 8 at nearby lived having been built on the moat moat the on built been having

warehouse.

their father’s death, the Clarkson family family Clarkson the death, father’s their The Brinks Trail

are distorted due to settlement, settlement, to due distorted are Wisbech Grammar School now occupies Harecroft House No.7 & 8 South Brink was the birthplace of Octavia Hill, a described as a barn, but it may have been a boathouse or or boathouse a been have may it but barn, a as described

Sharp and a chained African. After After African. chained a and Sharp

Museum and Castle Lodge Lodge Castle and Museum The second trail takes you (nos.47 & 48) which was built in 1844 in the style of an Italian crusader for housing and open space, and a founder of the

buildings in Wisbech, dating from around 1500. It is often often is It 1500. around from dating Wisbech, in buildings

legislation in Parliament), Granville Granville Parliament), in legislation

‘Great Expectations’. Both the the Both Expectations’. ‘Great along the Brinks. North villa by Algernon Peckover, and was later the home of his son National Trust. The house is now a museum which commemorates

Inn Yard. On the left can be seen one of the oldest timber framed framed timber oldest the of one seen be can left the On Yard. Inn

Wilberforce (who pushed through through pushed (who Wilberforce

original manuscript of Dickens Dickens of manuscript original Brink and South Brink Alexander and his family. her life and work and is open from mid March to October.

From the Market Place turn into Union Street then left into New New into left then Street Union into turn Place Market the From

depict his fellow campaigners William William campaigners fellow his depict

Their library contains the the contains library Their face each other across

Emancipation. The sandstone panels panels sandstone The Emancipation. The principal message of the Brinks is harmony in architecture. collections. collections. visit for its varied varied its for visit the tidal River Nene. Sibalds Holme, a large house along the North Brink beyond

end of the African Slave Trade and for for and Trade Slave African the of end

large horse trough which is now at Elgood’s Brewery. Elgood’s at now is which trough horse large Each building is different but they blend together. Many kinds of

The museum is well worth a a worth well is museum The North Brink is considered the Barton Road turn, was purchased and rebuilt by Algernon

his life to campaigning tirelessly for the the for tirelessly campaigning to life his architectural detail are visible, for example urns, friezes, pilasters

stocks and a whipping post, and at the other end there was a a was there end other the at and post, whipping a and stocks buildings in Museum Square. Square. Museum in buildings by many to be the most Peckover at the time of his marriage in 1828. It was lived in

Abolitionist movement and he devoted devoted he and movement Abolitionist continuously by his family for almost a hundred years before being and columns. Such details are not considered necessary today, and cornices above the windows) fits in well with the earlier earlier the with well in fits windows) the above cornices and origins. The church end of the Market Place once accommodated accommodated once Place Market the of end church The origins. outstanding feature of

museums in the country. Its late Georgian style (note the door cases cases door the (note style Georgian late Its country. the in museums Wisbech. In his ‘Buildings conceals an excellent medieval vaulted cellar which has religious religious has which cellar vaulted medieval excellent an conceals

slavery movement. Born in Wisbech in 1760, son of the Grammar Grammar the of son 1760, in Wisbech in Born movement. slavery it an interesting and attractive town. left. The Museum, built in 1846-47, was one of the first purpose-built purpose-built first the of one was 1846-47, in built Museum, The left. of England’, Nikolaus

other early features from the 17 the from features early other century. No.29 Market Place Place Market No.29 century.

a statue of Thomas Clarkson who played a leading role in the anti anti the in role leading a played who Clarkson Thomas of statue a th

Wisbech & Fenland Museum is to your right and Castle Lodge to the the to Lodge Castle and right your to is Museum Fenland & Wisbech Pevsner described it as Elgoods Brewery and Gardens is the final stopping off point

Its courtyard retains evidence of an open gallery and there are are there and gallery open an of evidence retains courtyard Its

by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1880. The 68ft high limestone monument has has monument limestone high 68ft The 1880. in Scott Gilbert Sir by

approach the steps to the Square, The Castle is in front of you. The The you. of front in is Castle The Square, the to steps the approach one of finest Georgian on the North Brink Trail. One of the first classic Georgian breweries

Ahead of you is the impressive Clarkson Memorial, designed designed Memorial, Clarkson impressive the is you of Ahead

end is dominated by the recently refurbished Rose & Crown Hotel. Hotel. Crown & Rose refurbished recently the by dominated is end brick streets of England. It As you you As right. your to is Square Museum church, the eaving L to be built outside London, it was established in 1795 from a

century as the focal point of commercial activity. The west west The activity. commercial of point focal the as century has been the backdrop to converted oil mill and

starts at the Fenland @ your service shop / Tourist Information Centre Information Tourist / shop service your @ Fenland the at starts

The Market Place superseded the Old Market from about the the about from Market Old the superseded Place Market The several period dramas granary. It changed

foundation. foundation.

and was probably sited in its unusual position to obtain a firm firm a obtain to position unusual its in sited probably was and

single walk. Both walks highlight the older and most interesting interesting most and older the highlight walks Both walk. single Spanley. As you proceed along North brink there are many times until 1877 when

Market Place. Market of the old tower into the nave. It houses a unique peal of ten bells bells ten of peal unique a houses It nave. the into tower old the of

Tim Daniels Tim ©

This leaflet provides two walks, but they can be linked to create a a create to linked be can they but walks, two provides leaflet This interesting properties to look at. it was purchased

Street which leads into the the into leads which Street century tower was built following the collapse collapse the following built was tower century unique. The early 16 early The unique.

The Town Trail Town The along with 70 tied

then turn left into Market Market into left turn then

two naves spanned by a single roof and ceiling, believed to be be to believed ceiling, and roof single a by spanned naves two houses by John

Church into Union Place, Place, Union into Church The Town Hall was originally built as a Corn Exchange and century the church was expanded to its present size, with with size, present its to expanded was church the century In the 14 the In

th Elgood, a maltster of and the United Reformed Reformed United the and Reading Rooms in 1811 by Joseph Medworth who was

centre. Godmanchester and

Continue past Castle Square Square Castle past Continue responsible for developing the Castle and Crescent. The building

Norman period. period. Norman Peterborough. an important trading trading important an between 1793 and 1835. 1835. and 1793 between was extended in 1858 and again in 1872 when the roof was arcades typical of the the of typical arcades

as an almost complete circus circus complete almost an as raised creating the splendid Council Chamber where the columns and round round and columns

agricultural region and and region agricultural The first brew of

Union Place and Ely Place Place Ely and Place Union Wisbech Town Council still meet.

arcade which has the the has which arcade Elgoods ale was mashed here on an autumn morning in 1878 and centre of a thriving thriving a of centre

developed The Crescent, Crescent, The developed

earliest work is in the north north the in is work earliest the family have continued to brew fine traditional ales ever since.

Castle moat. Medworth Medworth moat. Castle building in Wisbech. The The Wisbech. in building Lloyds Bank was built in the 1920s in a Baroque revival

Wisbech became the the became Wisbech Their visitor centre is an ideal place to stop for refreshment before It lies within the Norman Norman the within lies It The church is the oldest oldest the is church The style. Because of the architect’s meticulous attention to detail, it

continuing the trail back to town.

development by Medworth. Medworth. by development headstones still remain. remain. still headstones productive farmland and and farmland productive sits comfortably into the street scene alongside much earlier

result of planned speculative speculative planned of result

mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Some fine fine Some 1953. in II Elizabeth Queen of coronation the mark buildings.

marshes provided rich rich provided marshes

Crescent which was the the was which Crescent St Peter & St Paul. The Churchyard was converted into a garden to to garden a into converted was Churchyard The Paul. St & Peter St Returning along North Brink, South Brink can now be viewed

Turn left into The The into left Turn Turn left into Love Lane and straight on to the Parish Church of of Church Parish the to on straight and Lane Love into left Turn from across the river. Opposite the gazebo at No.27 North Brink Wash. The drained drained The Wash. The former Phoenix Hotel was previously known as the

White Hart and was one of several coaching inns in the town. is Ede’s Terrace where Georgian Wisbech ends and modern

Peterborough to the the to Peterborough industry begins. Ede’s Terrace consists of seven Regency period

The Crescent. The

along Alexandra Road, originally known as Deadman’s Lane. Lane. Deadman’s as known originally Road, Alexandra along houses with mansard roof, shallow bows at the ends and simple attractive features around around features attractive 66 leather armchairs opened in 2009 in the former WI Hall. Continue Continue Hall. WI former the in 2009 in opened armchairs leather 66

constructed from from constructed Numbers 7, 8 and 9 are now the North Brink Doctors’ fanlights.

century and stand as as stand and century

Angles Theatre is The Luxe Cinema, fully licensed luxury cinema with with cinema luxury licensed fully Cinema, Luxe The is Theatre Angles surgery. No.7 dates back to 1662. The stone façade which was of the River Nene was was Nene River the of

all) survive from the 17 the from survive all)

drama, dance and musical theatre - and an art gallery. Opposite the the Opposite gallery. art an and - theatre musical and dance drama,

th added later is an attractive contrast to the more prevalent brick.

gate piers (three sets in in sets (three piers gate 105 seats offers a very intimate performance space - specialising in in specialising - space performance intimate very a offers seats 105 In contrast, No.15, formerly part of Wisbech Grammar

present artificial course course artificial present Records show that buildings to the rear included an oil mill and

Thurloe’s mansion. The The mansion. Thurloe’s

theatres in the country. This remarkable community theatre with only only with theatre community remarkable This country. the in theatres granary and later a brewing office. The house itself has a long School, is much grander in style. It has a charming cupola and a

at Kings Lynn. The The Lynn. Kings at

architectural features of of features architectural

1792 the Angles Theatre is one of the oldest surviving Georgian Georgian surviving oldest the of one is Theatre Angles the 1792 connection with the medical profession. widows walk, so called because it formed a look out post for ships

mix of Regency with many many with Regency of mix Further along on the left hand side is the Angles Theatre. Opened in in Opened Theatre. Angles the is side hand left the on along Further returning from sea.

was diverted into the sea sea the into diverted was

Medworth. It is an odd odd an is It Medworth. No.12 and its adjacent warehouse testify to the commercial Ouse became silted up it it up silted became Ouse

built in 1816 by Joseph Joseph by 1816 in built

‘Frankenstein’. ‘Frankenstein’. origins of Georgian wealth. The simplicity of the warehouse is a Further along, No.12

The present ‘Castle’ was was ‘Castle’ present The of Woman’ and their daughter was Mary Shelley who wrote wrote who Shelley Mary was daughter their and Woman’ of formerly the Queens Hotel

estuary of the River River the of estuary perfect foil to the house fronts of the Brink.

married to Mary Wollstonecraft, author of ‘Vindication of the Rights Rights the of ‘Vindication of author Wollstonecraft, Mary to married has a grand stone door

times but when the the when but times State. of Secretary Cromwell’s Oliver was who Thurloe John for birthplace of William Godwin, radical thinker and novelist. He was was He novelist. and thinker radical Godwin, William of birthplace case. It was built as a

The next two houses are the finest in town. Both are Grade

century a fine mansion was built built was mansion fine a century Bishop of Ely’s palace. In the 17 the In palace. Ely’s of Bishop

Road. A short distance along is a blue plaque to commemorate the the commemorate to plaque blue a is along distance short A Road. residence around the same

port in medieval medieval in port 1 listed and are part of the Peckover Estate, now in the care of firstly by a Norman Castle which was replaced in 1478 by the the by 1478 in replaced was which Castle Norman a by firstly Gothic style, turn into Post Office Lane and then left into Alexandra Alexandra into left then and Lane Office Post into turn style, Gothic time as Peckover House

the National Trust. The Castle site has been occupied at least since the Conquest, Conquest, the since least at occupied been has site Castle The Continue past the Post Office, an attractive building in French French in building attractive an Office, Post the past Continue isbech served as a a as served isbech and has many similar internal features. The Peckovers were a Quaker banking family who had a great influence on the Retrace your steps to Union Street ForPlaces more information to visit www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org history of Wisbech. and then onto Hill Street. Almost ahead of Peckover House was you at the junction is an interesting Elgood’s Brewery and Garden built in 1722 and the building, now a Conservative Club, which Traditional 18th Century family brewery with a 4 low wings added in was the Grammar School from 1549 to acre garden and many delightful features. 1878. The house has 1898. It was here that Thomas Clarkson, Tel: 01945 583 160 a finely proportioned the anti slavery campaigner, was born façade with arched when his father was the Headmaster. It is sash windows and a grand stone door case raised on steps. The believed it was originally a Guildhall. Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House interior has panelled rooms and ornate plasterwork. Behind the house is a 2 acre Victorian-style walled garden with many The House is a Grade II* listed Georgian house, attractive features including summer houses, an orangery and a Head along Hill Street towards the river. To your right is the in which Octavia Hill, social reformer and reed thatched barn. The House and Garden are open to the Working Men’s Club and Institute which was provided for the co-founder of the National Trust, was born. public. people of Wisbech and the surrounding villages by the Peckover Tel: 01945 476 358 family. The imposing clock tower contains a carillon which used to play tunes on the hour. Continuing along Peckover House and Garden - North Brink, no.21 is the At the end of Hill Street the tidal River Nene comes in view. National Trust Friends Meeting House, Once ships berthed here in the centre of town, off-loading their The elegant Georgian Town House with 2 acre opened in 1854 and cargoes directly into the warehouses and granaries. The main port walled Victorian styled garden has summer designed by Algernon area which incorporates a Yacht Harbour is now beyond the houses, croquet lawns and licensed tearooms at Peckover. The small Freedom Bridge. The the Reed Barn. graveyard behind the warehouse of H Friend & Tel: 01945 583 463 Meeting House is where Co, Skin and Feather the remains of many of the Merchants, on Nene Wisbech and Fenland Museum Peckover family lie. Quay has now been A purpose-built Victorian museum retaining the converted into flats, but charm and character of the time. Exhibits include Numbers 22 to 25 were also designed and built by the the traditional painted Fenland history, agriculture and geology. Peckovers. They have a fascinating array of architectural features. sign on its west side Tel: 01945 583 817 The gables are crow-stepped, there are mock Tudor chimneys, remains. fish scale tiles, hexagonal slates and fleur-de-lys ridge tiles. These Merchant Trails: type of embellishments were very popular in Victorian times, Turn to your left and head towards the Town Bridge. As Enjoy a leisurely walk around Wisbech. This reflecting styles of earlier periods. you approach you will see the large stone abutment of an guide brings to life many famous characters of earlier iron bridge. this town and tells you why Wisbech became one To the west of no.27 North Brink there is a later 19th century of the most prosperous ports in the country gazebo, probably based on the earlier one at no.54. These Cross the bridge into Old Market, a triangular space during the 18th and 19th centuries. Look on gazebos or summerhouses were built by members of the surrounded by fine Georgian buildings which testify to the www.strideguides.com/wisbech Peckover family as view points to overlook the busy river. golden days of the river trade. Architectural details to look out Wisbech for are: cast iron work on Barclays Bank and nos.8 & 9 Old The Red Lion Inn at no.32 was built Market, the sumptuous door cases and fanlights on nos.1 & 2, as a hostelry around 1764 and and a medieval door at no.10. On the north side of Old remains a popular riverside pub Market, no.33, is a good 18th century building, while the Mini Guide neighbouring property, Sulehay House, is one of the most serving the locally brewed Elgoods important Georgian buildings in the town. It is a Grade II* ale. The Rose Tavern, a little further & along the Brink, also serves real ale. Listed Building which has been restored. Next door is the former Cambridgeshire Fens Town Trail corn merchants Counting House with glazed pantiles, usually Fenland District Council, Fenland Hall, County Road, associated with Norfolk. March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 8NQ Tel: 01354 654321 Email: [email protected] You can now continue your tour of Wisbech by following the Web: www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org Facebook: Fenland District Council second trail along the Brinks - The Brinks Trail. Twitter: #Fenland Council Wisbech Information Centre - 4 Post Office Lane, Wisbech, PE13 1HG Tel: 01945 464 058 Cambridgeshire Fens

marked by a blue plaque. blue a by marked of the Norman Castle. Norman the of

lived nearby at 8 York Row, which is is which Row, York 8 at nearby lived having been built on the moat moat the on built been having

warehouse.

their father’s death, the Clarkson family family Clarkson the death, father’s their The Brinks Trail

Sharp and a chained African. After After African. chained a and Sharp

Museum and Castle Lodge Lodge Castle and Museum The second trail takes you (nos.47 & 48) which was built in 1844 in the style of an Italian crusader for housing and open space, and a founder of the buildings in Wisbech, dating from around 1500. It is often often is It 1500. around from dating Wisbech, in buildings

legislation in Parliament), Granville Granville Parliament), in legislation

Inn Yard. On the left can be seen one of the oldest timber framed framed timber oldest the of one seen be can left the On Yard. Inn

Wilberforce (who pushed through through pushed (who Wilberforce

original manuscript of Dickens Dickens of manuscript original Brink and South Brink Alexander and his family. her life and work and is open from mid March to October.

From the Market Place turn into Union Street then left into New New into left then Street Union into turn Place Market the From depict his fellow campaigners William William campaigners fellow his depict

Their library contains the the contains library Their face each other across

end of the African Slave Trade and for for and Trade Slave African the of end large horse trough which is now at Elgood’s Brewery. Elgood’s at now is which trough horse large Each building is different but they blend together. Many kinds of

The museum is well worth a a worth well is museum The North Brink is considered the Barton Road turn, was purchased and rebuilt by Algernon

his life to campaigning tirelessly for the the for tirelessly campaigning to life his architectural detail are visible, for example urns, friezes, pilasters stocks and a whipping post, and at the other end there was a a was there end other the at and post, whipping a and stocks buildings in Museum Square. Square. Museum in buildings by many to be the most Peckover at the time of his marriage in 1828. It was lived in

School headmaster, Clarkson was one of the early leaders of the the of leaders early the of one was Clarkson headmaster, School divided into two prior to being sold. but they enrich the historic landscape of Wisbech and help make museums in the country. Its late Georgian style (note the door cases cases door the (note style Georgian late Its country. the in museums Wisbech. In his ‘Buildings conceals an excellent medieval vaulted cellar which has religious religious has which cellar vaulted medieval excellent an conceals

other early features from the 17 the from features early other century. No.29 Market Place Place Market No.29 century.

a statue of Thomas Clarkson who played a leading role in the anti anti the in role leading a played who Clarkson Thomas of statue a th

Its courtyard retains evidence of an open gallery and there are are there and gallery open an of evidence retains courtyard Its by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1880. The 68ft high limestone monument has has monument limestone high 68ft The 1880. in Scott Gilbert Sir by

Ahead of you is the impressive Clarkson Memorial, designed designed Memorial, Clarkson impressive the is you of Ahead

L to be built outside London, it was established in 1795 from a Entertainment

century as the focal point of commercial activity. The west west The activity. commercial of point focal the as century has been the backdrop to converted oil mill and th

starts at the Fenland @ your service shop / Tourist Information Centre Information Tourist / shop service your @ Fenland the at starts

The Market Place superseded the Old Market from about the the about from Market Old the superseded Place Market The several period dramas granary. It changed The Luxe Cinema foundation. foundation.

buildings in Wisbech and the stories behind them. The Town Trail Trail Town The them. behind stories the and Wisbech in buildings including Martin Chuzzlewit, David Copperfield and Dean hands a number of and was probably sited in its unusual position to obtain a firm firm a obtain to position unusual its in sited probably was and The Luxe Cinema is a stylish and

of the old tower into the nave. It houses a unique peal of ten bells bells ten of peal unique a houses It nave. the into tower old the of independent film-lovers delight, offering

This leaflet provides two walks, but they can be linked to create a a create to linked be can they but walks, two provides leaflet This interesting properties to look at. it was purchased

Street which leads into the the into leads which Street century tower was built following the collapse collapse the following built was tower century unique. The early 16 early The unique.

th a whole new experience where you can

The Town Trail Town The along with 70 tied

then turn left into Market Market into left turn then

two naves spanned by a single roof and ceiling, believed to be be to believed ceiling, and roof single a by spanned naves two houses by John cosy up and relax on a leather arm Church into Union Place, Place, Union into Church The Town Hall was originally built as a Corn Exchange and century the church was expanded to its present size, with with size, present its to expanded was church the century In the 14 the In

th Elgood, a maltster of chair or two-seater sofa. The elegant and the United Reformed Reformed United the and Reading Rooms in 1811 by Joseph Medworth who was

Godmanchester and Continue past Castle Square Square Castle past Continue responsible for developing the Castle and Crescent. The building Norman period. period. Norman fully licensed bar provides an ambient

Peterborough. between 1793 and 1835. 1835. and 1793 between was extended in 1858 and again in 1872 when the roof was arcades typical of the the of typical arcades setting for the pre and post film drinks

as an almost complete circus circus complete almost an as raised creating the splendid Council Chamber where the

columns and round round and columns The first brew of and nibbles.

Union Place and Ely Place Place Ely and Place Union Wisbech Town Council still meet.

arcade which has the the has which arcade Elgoods ale was mashed here on an autumn morning in 1878 and Tel: 01945 588 808

developed The Crescent, Crescent, The developed

earliest work is in the north north the in is work earliest the family have continued to brew fine traditional ales ever since. Castle moat. Medworth Medworth moat. Castle building in Wisbech. The The Wisbech. in building Lloyds Bank was built in the 1920s in a Baroque revival

Their visitor centre is an ideal place to stop for refreshment before It lies within the Norman Norman the within lies It The church is the oldest oldest the is church The style. Because of the architect’s meticulous attention to detail, it WEST P The Angles Theatre

continuing the trail back to town.

development by Medworth. Medworth. by development headstones still remain. remain. still headstones sits comfortably into the street scene alongside much earlier Built in 1793, The AnglesAL TheatreBANY ROAD is one

result of planned speculative speculative planned of result mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Some fine fine Some 1953. in II Elizabeth Queen of coronation the mark buildings. AR NENE P

ADE of the oldest surviving Georgian theatres Crescent which was the the was which Crescent St Peter & St Paul. The Churchyard was converted into a garden to to garden a into converted was Churchyard The Paul. St & Peter St Returning along North Brink, South Brink can now be viewed CRESCENT

AR in the country. This remarkable YD Turn left into The The into left Turn Turn left into Love Lane and straight on to the Parish Church of of Church Parish the to on straight and Lane Love into left Turn The former Phoenix Hotel was previously known as the from across the river. Opposite the gazebo at No.27 North Brink OAKRO ADE White Hart and was one of several coaching inns in the town. is Ede’s Terrace where Georgian Wisbech ends and modern communityQUEEN STREE theatre is tucked away in

industry begins. Ede’s Terrace consists of seven Regency period The Crescent. The along Alexandra Road, originally known as Deadman’s Lane. Lane. Deadman’s as known originally Road, Alexandra along Wisbech.

houses with mansard roof, shallow bows at the ends and simple attractive features around around features attractive

66 leather armchairs opened in 2009 in the former WI Hall. Continue Continue Hall. WI former the in 2009 in opened armchairs leather 66 Tel: 01945 474 447 CHASE STREE

Numbers 7, 8 and 9 are now the North Brink Doctors’ fanlights.

century and stand as as stand and century

all) survive from the 17 the from survive all)

drama, dance and musical theatre - and an art gallery. Opposite the the Opposite gallery. art an and - theatre musical and dance drama, OPPORTUNE ROAD th added later is an attractive contrast to the more prevalent brick.

NOR SILVER STREE gate piers (three sets in in sets (three piers gate

105 seats offers a very intimate performance space - specialising in in specialising - space performance intimate very a offers seats 105 Records show that buildings to the rear included an oil mill and In contrast, No.15, formerly part of Wisbech Grammar

TH END T Thurloe’s mansion. The The mansion. Thurloe’s theatres in the country. This remarkable community theatre with only only with theatre community remarkable This country. the in theatres School, is much grander in style. It has a charming cupola and a

granary and later a brewing office. The house itself has a long THE

architectural features of of features architectural 1792 the Angles Theatre is one of the oldest surviving Georgian Georgian surviving oldest the of one is Theatre Angles the 1792 widows walk, so called because it formed a look out post for ships BOATHOUSE

connection with the medical profession. BUSINESS mix of Regency with many many with Regency of mix

Further along on the left hand side is the Angles Theatre. Opened in in Opened Theatre. Angles the is side hand left the on along Further returning from sea. CENTRE

Medworth. It is an odd odd an is It Medworth. No.12 and its adjacent warehouse testify to the commercial WEST P built in 1816 by Joseph Joseph by 1816 in built

‘Frankenstein’. ‘Frankenstein’. Further along, No.12 D

origins of Georgian wealth. The simplicity of the warehouse is a A

The present ‘Castle’ was was ‘Castle’ present The of Woman’ and their daughter was Mary Shelley who wrote wrote who Shelley Mary was daughter their and Woman’ of formerly the Queens Hotel O

AR R

perfect foil to the house fronts of the Brink.

married to Mary Wollstonecraft, author of ‘Vindication of the Rights Rights the of ‘Vindication of author Wollstonecraft, Mary to married has a grand stone door ADE T

A State. of Secretary Cromwell’s Oliver was who Thurloe John for birthplace of William Godwin, radical thinker and novelist. He was was He novelist. and thinker radical Godwin, William of birthplace HARECROFT RO

case. It was built as a RUSSELL STREE L

NENE P L

The next two houses are the finest in town. Both are Grade I century a fine mansion was built built was mansion fine a century Bishop of Ely’s palace. In the 17 the In palace. Ely’s of Bishop Road. A short distance along is a blue plaque to commemorate the the commemorate to plaque blue a is along distance short A Road. residence around the same V

th 1 listed and are part of the Peckover Estate, now in the care of A

PLAYING FIELDS H firstly by a Norman Castle which was replaced in 1478 by the the by 1478 in replaced was which Castle Norman a by firstly

Gothic style, turn into Post Office Lane and then left into Alexandra Alexandra into left then and Lane Office Post into turn style, Gothic time as Peckover House

AR CHASE STREE

the National Trust. D The Castle site has been occupied at least since the Conquest, Conquest, the since least at occupied been has site Castle The Continue past the Post Office, an attractive building in French French in building attractive an Office, Post the past Continue and has many similar ADE AD internal features. NOR The Peckovers were a WISBECH POLICE © TimTH Daniels END STATION & Quaker banking MAGISTRATES AD family who had a COURT T LYNN RO Y A great influence on the CHT HARBOUR Retrace your steps to Union Street history of Wisbech. AD and then onto Hill Street. Almost ahead of Peckover House was LYNN RO YLAND you at the junction is an interesting built in 1722 and the SAND building, now a Conservative Club, which low wings added in was the Grammar School from 1549 to 1878. The house has 1898. It was here that Thomas Clarkson, FREEDOM a finely proportioned BRIDGE the anti slavery campaigner, was born façade with arched when his father was the Headmaster. It is sash windows and a grand stone door case raised on steps. The believed it was originally a Guildhall. interior has panelled rooms and ornate plasterwork. Behind the T house is a 2 acre Victorian-style walled garden with many HORSE F CAR PARK Head along Hill Street towards the river. To your right is the attractive features including summer houses, an orangery and a TH STREE Working Men’s Club and Institute which was provided for the reed thatched barn. The House and Garden are open to the AIR THE CHASE people of Wisbech and the surrounding villages by the Peckover public. CAR PARK NOR ANE

’

I family. The imposing clock tower contains a carillon which used to HARECROFT RO SCHOOL L GE BUS CHURCHILL RO

H S STATION

I ASSA play tunes on the hour. Continuing along R P Y C S HORSE FAIR A North Brink, no.21 is the COACH PARKING HILL STREE

Friends Meeting House, AD At the end of Hill Street the tidal River Nene comes in view. HUDSON T

C LEISURE CENTRE RIVER NENE AIR A Once ships berthed here in the centre of town, off-loading their opened in 1854 and T NENE QU AD N

HORSE F

E ARK area which incorporates a Yacht Harbour is now beyond the Peckover. The small AD Freedom Bridge. The graveyard behind the CHAPEL RO

UNION STREE M warehouse of H Friend & Meeting House is where OLD ROSE & MARKET PLACE F AL TOWN HALL CROWN . Co, Skin and Feather the remains of many of the C ON RO Merchants, on Nene Peckover family lie. CHURCH MEWS TH BRINK AD NOR T Quay has now been TLE CHURCH ST

LIT converted into flats, but Numbers 22 to 25 were also designed and built by the T the traditional painted PEDESTRIAN AREA HIGH STREE S Peckovers. They have a fascinating array of architectural features. MEW T STREE sign on its west side BRIDGE CASTLE The gables are crow-stepped, there are mock Tudor chimneys, SOUTH BRINK STREET ARKE FENLAND @ M remains. C ACE fish scale tiles, hexagonal slates and fleur-de-lys ridge tiles. These ASTLE UNION PL EL AD YOUR SERVICE SQU CHURCH ANE Y PL L ARE TOWN type of embellishments were very popular in Victorian times, RO / TOURIST A TH BRINK INFORMATION CE LIBRARY Turn to your left and head towards the Town Bridge. As reflecting styles of earlier periods. NOR POST WISBECH WISBECH TERR OFFICE INFORMATION CASTLE you approach you will see the large stone abutment of an POST OFFICE ROOM A

SOMERS SOMERS CE SOUTH BRINK ALEX earlier iron bridge. To the west of no.27 North Brink there is a later 19th century THE MUSEUM ANDR CRESCENT N CHURCH OF CHURCH gazebo, probably based on the earlier one at no.54. These RIVER NENE STERMTY A RO ST PETERS AND ST PAULS STREE Cross the bridge into Old Market, a triangular space gazebos or summerhouses were built by members of the COACH PARK AD surrounded by fine Georgian buildings which testify to the Peckover family as view points to overlook the busy river. CAR PARK ST PETERS TERR golden days of the river trade. Architectural details to look out LODGE ANE for are: cast iron work on Barclays Bank and nos.8 & 9 Old VE L A The Red Lion Inn at no.32 was built LO CE Market, the sumptuous door cases and fanlights on nos.1 & 2, AD as a hostelry around 1764 and and a medieval door at no.10. On the north side of Old th remains a popular riverside pub C QUEEN MARY Market, no.33, is a good 18 century building, while the O AL CENTRE serving the locally brewed Elgoods SOMERS RO WHARF ALEX ALK neighbouring property, Sulehay House, is one of the most W ale. The Rose Tavern, a little further QUEENS RO ’S important Georgian buildings in the town. It is a Grade II* ANDR CAR PARK along the Brink, also serves real ale. RO KING Listed Building which has been restored. Next door is the former AD A RO corn merchants Counting House with glazed pantiles, usually AD TON RO AD associated with Norfolk. BAR AD

VENUE PRINCE’ ALK W You can now continue your tour of Wisbech by following the ’S KING second trail along the Brinks - The Brinks Trail. KINGSLEY A ROSMINI S RO

BRINK Not to scale CENTRE

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NO AD ’S CL S RO AUL HILLBURN RO ’ TYLLERIE ST P KING

AD SOUTH BRINK SOUTH