Wind powered drainage in the fens

I have lived and worked near, in and around the fens all my life. The battle to reclaim the land from the waters has had a fascination for me ever since I have known about it. In reality to describe it as a battle is to diminish what has really been a war, at times the waters have taken back with ease, that which was won with much hard physical work.The most honest evaluation is probably that which has been taken is held; mammoth and innovative engineering maintain the status quo.I have in my lounge a reproduction of a 1645 map of Huntingdonshire, with the Isle of Ely and part of Cambridgeshire. A good portion of Huntingdonshire and the Isle of Ely are shown as under water with a few towns and villages as islands within the waters, I have another map of about a similar age titled Inumdatum which gives an indication of the extent of the waters.The drainage of the fens has been achieved over many centuries the long straight waterways (drains), dug mainly by hand. A truly spectacular sight to me is to drive along a road with the river above me on one side above the height of the van and ten twenty feet or more below me on the other side are the fields with crops growing in them.

Hundred Foot Bank, Sutton, CambsThe B1381 road to Earith runs below the New Bedford River level.© Copyright Rodney BurtonThe photograph shows in an instant the monumental achievement in reclamation of land from the water the land below the road has to be drained by emptying it into a river or drain above it rather than below it. When you realise a cubic metre of water weighs a tonne the colossal scale of the feat becomes more apparent. Every drop of water in that and many drains and rivers in the fens that has been run off from the fields, has to be physically lifted considerable heights to keep the ground dry and usable.To start with wind was used to power pumps and giant scoop wheels to lift the water then steam, diesel and now electric pumps do the work. With the appearance of wind turbines in the fens, ultimately they are now to a degree being drained again by wind power.
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • I am always staggered by what was achieved by our predecessors; building the railways, canals etc., but to actually drain half a county by hand. Are there any plans afoot to use windpower once more as a direct mechanism for the drainage?
  • Pip
    I don't think there are any plans at present to use wind power directly to pump water. The amount of power used now to drive the pumps is absolutely colossal, and you cannot always guarantee the wind when needed. A book I read on fen drainage commented on the one thing that had increased constantly was the amount of power needed to pump the water away.
    When you drive along deside these drains fof miles and are not seeing them in their entirety and to realise that they were dug by hand is quite amazing.
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

JANINE MCMAHON replied to Oliver clarkson's discussion Rose spray
"Look forward to hearing your results.
 "
18 hours ago
John F replied to Richard Farley's discussion Nature Loving Customers !!!
"It's interesting though how many customers see any creature within their garden territory as an intruder . 
Fear of the unknown perhaps ? 
Must admit though the unfortunate  label of slow worm does them no favours . "
yesterday
Billybop replied to Richard Farley's discussion Nature Loving Customers !!!
"to be fair, if they were unaware of what Slow Worms are, from the name alone, they might sound like a pest, like some outdoor type of tape worm"
yesterday
Honey Badger replied to Richard Farley's discussion Nature Loving Customers !!!
"By breaking the laws on protected species."
yesterday
Dan Fish is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
yesterday
Richard Farley posted a discussion
Had a brief chat with a once a year customer , where I just cut his knee length grass down . I happened to mention the abundance of wildlife in his garden , and that last year I saw some slow worms basking in the sun.He looked at me and replied " Oh…
yesterday
David Benson replied to Henry's discussion Etesia Hydro 80 failing to start
"no expert on this but the safty switch on the seat will not allow any power to the starter unless you are sat on it or bypast. Ihave come accross other switches on the deck if ther is a removable flap 
is the earth on the starter ok "
Monday
David Benson replied to Peter sellers's discussion Compost survey
"i have used clover multi purpos which has some peat in it no lumps or rubbish in it. 3 bags today for potting and seeds did not come accross anything i had to chuck out "
Monday
Neil brown posted a discussion
Hi Everyone Does anybody use project completion forms for customer's to sign at completion to say they are satisfied with the outcome to avoid payment issues when sending the final invoice Thanks in Advance Neil 
Monday
Billybop replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"hi Brian, the charge would essentially be doubled. Tripled even. Or something close to that. Depending on when I would be available to return. Especially on the big gardens which are not easy to reschedule. So there is no incentive for the customer…"
Monday
Brian's Garden Maintenance replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"Thank you, Adam, for your replay
That is a great help. if you don't mind me asking. How much would you charge for the nock back what sort of a percentage do add on extra for the second visit, please?
 "
Monday
Brian's Garden Maintenance replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"Adam One of my clients I do need water wings on the lawnmower it is that wet! LOL Luck I got a 4 wheel lawnmower!
 "
Monday
Brian's Garden Maintenance replied to Brian's Garden Maintenance's discussion Clients contracts for wet Grass cutting
"Thank you, Billybop for your reply.
Yes, there are domestic types! If you don't mind me asking. How much percentage do you charge extra for the second visit, please?
 "
Monday
Andrew replied to Peter sellers's discussion Compost survey
"I agree that the quality of compost, PARTICULARLY peat-free p.compost is appalling.I find sticks,bits of plastic/stones,string etc in these 'environmentally' friendly brands.Basically, we're in wild west country now where any old tom,dick and harry…"
Monday
Henry replied to Henry's discussion Etesia Hydro 80 failing to start
"I did wonder that but it's not getting 12v at all on the trigger wire, so I don't think it's being "asked" to energise "
Monday
Henry replied to Henry's discussion Etesia Hydro 80 failing to start
"That's really helpful, although I haven't replaced my loom it does sound like a very similar issue and gives me a few things to try "
Monday
More…

Nature Loving Customers !!!

Had a brief chat with a once a year customer , where I just cut his knee length grass down . I happened to mention the abundance of wildlife in his garden , and that last year I saw some slow worms basking in the sun.He looked at me and replied " Oh…

Read more…
3 Replies · Reply by John F yesterday
Views: 130