A.D.

as the whole line cannot at once be effected, it is intended to execute it by degrees, which, when accomplished, besides the removal of a dangerous object, will no doubt add to the salubrity and health of the inhabitants.

Besides the noble charities before referred to, there are several of a smaller description, as recorded on frames against the church pillars.

Mr. LEONARD CREMER, by will, gave £5. to be paid 1635. by the churchwardens to the best use of the said poor. 1674. Mr. THOMAS COWARD, by will, gave six acres of arable land in Oldfield, in Elm, to the churchwardens and overseers of March, who are, out of the produce, to buy thirty yards of woollen cloth, at 2s. a yard, to make ten coats, and three chaldrons of coals, to be by them given to the poor every St. Thomas' day. He gave the like gift to the poor of Elm, on condition that if either parish officers should fail in the due disposal of his charities, the other parish should have both gifts.

1675.

Mr. BEAUCHAM WALSHAM gave three roods of land in Westfield, in March, to trustees, the rents of which are to be distributed twice a year amongst their most pious and needy poor.

Mr. THOMAS WALSHAM, by will, gave a rent charge of £2. a year, issuing out of thirty acres of land lying in Northwood Side Fen, one moiety of which is to be paid to the parson or curate of March, to preach a sermon yearly on St. Thomas' day; the other moiety is to be given to the poor in bread upon the same day.

Mr. JOHN WALSHAM gave a rent charge of £4. 10s. a year, out of seventeen acres of land called Cow-fen, in the parish of March, to the churchwardens, who are

every year to buy four heifers, and give them to four poor men of the said town every Easter-Tuesday; and if the said rent charge be not paid, the churchwardens may enter upon the said land, and enjoy the same use for ever.

Mr. RYNOLD WALSHAM, by will, gave £5., the interest of which is appointed to be distributed amongst the poor on every Easter-day.

Mrs. SARAH WALSHAM, by will, gave £10., the interest to be paid to twelve poor widows on every St. John's day.

Mr. JAMES SHEPPARD gave three acres called Fen- A.D. house Close, to the churchwardens, for keeping at school 1684. three or more poor children.

Mr. STEPHEN SHEPPARD, by will, gave £10., the interest of which is to be given to the poor upon every St. Stephen's day.

the

Mrs. ELIZABETH SHEPPARD; by will, gave £5., interest of which is to be distributed to ten poor widows upon every new year's day.

Mr. THOMAS SHEPPARD, by will, gave £10., the interest of which is to be given to the poor upon every new year's day.

The Rev. PHILIP WILLIAMS, rector of Doddington, 1685. gave £50. to buy land; the rent is appointed yearly to be laid out in books, and the curate of March and the churchwardens are to distribute the same to the poor of March within the week of Easter.

Mr. MICHAEL WYLDBORE gave £10. to the church- 1737. wardens of March, the interest of which is to be distributed to forty poor people of the said town, in bread, upon every St. Michael's day.

Mr. MARTIN PIERSON, bachelor of music, by will, gave £100. for the purchase of lands, the rent of which

is to be distributed by the overseers of March, to eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve poor persons of the same parish, in twopenny loaves of good wheaten bread, upon every Sunday for ever; which donation purchased a parcel of ground called Fenhouse Close, in March.

Mr. JOHN NEALE, by will, gave £ 5., the interest of which is to be given to the poor upon every new year's day.

A.D. The Rev. Dr. JOBSON, vicar of Wisbech, gave £100., 1820. the interest to be employed in providing religious books

Is another considerable hamlet in the parish of Dod-
dington, and has a chapel depending thereon. A school
was founded here in the year 1714, by Mr. Thomas
Eaton, for the education of forty children in reading,
writing, and arithmetic; it was endowed with lands of
considerable value. Some litigation took place, which
caused an application to the court of Chancery, who
have lately appropriated the rents, and settled a scheme
for the future regulation of the school. A dwelling-
house has been built for the master, and an appointment
has been made by the trustees. The funds are more
than £50. per annum.
The Rev. Dr. Jobson also
lately gave £100. to this hamlet, of which he was for-
merly curate, to provide books, such as testaments,
&c., for the use of the poor. The nunnery at Chat-
teris had formerly lands in this hamlet.

In the return of population made in the year 1821, there were 433 males and 426 females, in all 859.

BENWICK

HAS a chapel also depending on Doddington. At this place, that branch of the Ouse, formerly called the West Water, which ran in a northerly direction from Earith, met a part of the Nene,* and descended from hence, by Great Cross or Plant Water, to the north seas at Wisbech, whilst that outfall was perfect. In the civil wars in the time of Stephen, the men of Ely called to their assistance the earl of Essex, whom the empress Maud had won over to her party, who laid waste the lands and population of such as were attached to the king's interest, and having spoiled Ramsey abbey, the earl placed a garrison at Benwick, where was a passage into the isle of Ely.‡

In 34th Edward I. (1305) it was presented, that the men of Benwick had destroyed a certain place in King's Delph, of the alders and rushes called Hertyngges, containing a mile in length and breadth.§

The Rev. Dr. Jobson, vicar of Wisbech, gave also £100. to this hamlet, the interest to be employed in providing religious books for the poor. In 1821, there were 264 males and 250 females, making in all 514, according to the then returns of population.

MANEA

Is a small hamlet in the middle level, not far distant from Doddington, though lying in the hundred of North Witchford. A square mound of earth stands in about the

See page 21. Dugdale, p. 394.
Dugdale, page 366.

Lyson's Brit. Camb. page 9.

middle of the village, but there is no tradition for what purpose it was raised, or any information to be traced of its origin. About this spot his majesty king Charles I. had some serious intention of building an eminent town, and to have called it Charlemont.* His majesty is said to have drawn the design himself, intending to have made a navigable stream thence to the river Ouse. It has a chapel of ease appendant to Coveney, where the clergyman resides. About the year 1753, certain pieces of land becoming forfeited, the same were re-granted by the lord of the manor, at a court there held, to eight trustees, who are empowered to apply the rents for the use of the poor; and the rents of a house and of certain other lands are directed to be paid in support of a schoolmaster, to instruct poor children of the hamlet in reading. It consists of 657 inhabitants, viz. 342 males and 315 females.

WELCH'S-DAM

Is an extra-parochial place, consisting of a few straggling houses, at the extremity of the Forty-feet or Vermuyden's Drain, where it empties itself into the Old Bedford river. It has its own overseer, and in the population returns of 1821, there appear to have been 156 inhabitants, viz. 87 males and 69 females.

This closes the account of the villages in the isle of Ely, circumjacent to the ancient town of Wisbech, and and we may remark that they are, for the most part, well built. The pale brick and tile, manufactured in these parts, give a very neat appearance to the houses,

See note, page 45.