Records held at Cambridgeshire Archives
The Port of Wisbech has for much of its history struggled with the poor outfall of the River Nene and the ever-changing course of the Ouse.
Nevertheless, in 1566 13 ‘ keles barges botes and lighters’ were recorded at the port engaged in carrying ‘grayne and sea cole’.
Improvement schemes
In 1631, Vermuyden constructed a new sluice at Horseshoes Corner to improve the outflow to sea. Increased trade meant that by 1680 the Borough Corporation gained independence for their port from Kings Lynn.
Further improvements were opposed by the Commissioners of Sewers for the Hundred of Wisbech and in 1721, fearful of harm to their port, the Borough Corporation encouraged the demolition in a ‘riotous manner’ of Bedford Level Corporation works. By the 1750’s the port was so chocked by silt that engineer Nathaniel Kinderley noted vessels drawing only 6 feet of water could travel no closer than 6 miles to the town.
By 1771 the attempted cut of 1721 was finally made and the port developed rapidly as similar initiatives followed.
Expansion
By 1825 the port was clearing over 1,200 vessels per annum and in 1847, the annual gross tonnage handled rose to a peak of 167,442. Most vessels were engaged in the ‘home’ trade only, exporting grain and rapeseed oil to London or east coast ports and importing coal and timber. By 1894 Wisbech had become the greatest importer of Baltic timber on the East Anglian coast.
The nineteenth century boom in shipping activity was initially served by ships registered to the port itself: 213 vessels in the two decades before 1856. By the turn of the twentieth century vessels registered elsewhere met the port’s needs. Only two steamers and 12 fishing vessels remained on the books by 1909.
Records
Cambridgeshire Archives holds records of vessels registered at Wisbech (1836-1994) and crew lists (1863-1913). The Cambridgeshire Family History Society has produced an index and partial transcript of the latter which is available in the searchroom.
Click on ‘Finding an Ancestor in Wisbech Shipping Records' below for a detailed guide to these and other sources.