WISBEACII, Cambridgeshire, a municipal borough and sea-port, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, is situated iu the Feu district, chiefly on the right bank of the river Nene, in 40' N. lat., 9' E. long., distant 43 miles N. from Cambridge, 93 miles N. by E. from London by road, and 964 miles by the Eastern Counties and East Anglian railways. The borough is governed by 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, of whom one is mayor. The living is a vicarage, in the arelaleaconry and diocese of Ely. Wisbeach Poor-Law Union contains 22 parishes and townships, with an area of 131,585 acres, and a popu lation in 1851 of 36,215.
The town of Wisbeach has a neat and uniform appearance; the streets are clean and lighted with gas. A baud-otne circus, constructed in 1816, occupies the space on which the castle of Wisbeach formerly stood. The corn exchange, built in 1811, was converted in 1331 into a room for lectures, concerts, and similar purposes. At the back of the corn exchange is a large plot of ground used as a cattle-market. The new town-hall was built in 1801 on the site of a building called `The Firkin Cross,' which was the butter-market at a period when the town had a considerable trade in dairy produce. A public hall was erected in 1852 for the use of the mechanics institute, temperance society, &c. The house of correction was built in 1807. The market place occupies a large piece of ground in the centre of the town. There are public baths. St. Peter's church is an ancient and very fine building, with a tower detached from the body of church. St. Mary's church is a abort distance from the town, and there is a chapel of ease. The Wesleyan Methodists, Independents, Baptists, Quakers, Roman Catholics, and Uuitarians have places of worship. There are a Bethel or Seamen's chapel, a Free Grammar school, National, British, and Infant schools, a literary society, a scientific institution, reading rooms, is public library, and a savings bank. Quarter and petty
sessions and a county court are held in the town.
The two parts of the town of Wisbeach are connected by a bridge of stone, consisting of one arch of 72 feet span. A canal between beach and Outwell, which was completed in 1792, connects the Nene with the Ousc. The navigation of the Nene to 1Visbeach had gradually become very difficult and dangerous, from the accumulation of mud and sand; but by cuts and other works it has been much improved. The number and tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the port of Wisbeach on December 31st, 1854, were-50 tons and under, 22 sailing-vessels, tonnage 815; and 1 steam-vessel, tonuage 13 : above 50 tone, 78 eailing-vessels, tonnage 11,932; and 2 steam-vessels of 875 tons. The number and tonnage of vessels entered and cleared at the port during 1854, were :—Inwards, 727 sailing-vessels, tonuage 62,699, and 41 steam-vessels, tonnage 16,996; outwards, 308 sailing-vessels, tonnage 19,653, and 2 steam-vessels, tonnage 104.
The market for fat cattle is held weekly on Thursday; that for corn, which is of considerable importance, is held on Saturday. Three fairs are held yearly. The exports include corn, potatoes, wool, and seeds; coals and timber are the chief imports. Ship- and boatebuilding, rope-making, iron-founding, brick-making, brewing, malting, and tanning are carried on. Whiting is made to some extent. In the vicinity are extensive market-gardens.
A castle was built at Wisbeach in 1086 by William I. After its destruction by an inundation in 1236 it was rebuilt. It existed in Cromwell's time, but has since been demolished. The Guild of the Holy Trinity of Wyebech was established in 1379, and remained, with eight minor guilds, till the dissolution of the monasteries.