Embedded Files
Sybil Mary Edwards was born on Lotting Fen in November 1913 before the start of the 'Great War'. Her father had lived there all his life and his father before him. ......a line of Fen -Tigers!
William Henry and his wife Kate Mary recall the realities of their life on the fen in the book of memories Fenland Chronicle.
Sybil's early life on this land a few miles from the town of Ramsey is recorded in the book written about her Edwardian childhood, The Silver New Nothing.
Both books offer a wonderful perspective of the area, it's buildings, fields, hedges and drains. The people who lived and worked on this land are all remembered through their relationship with the young Sybil and her family.
Lotting Fen - a drawing in The Silver New Nothing Image from Huntingdon Archives
Facts about Lotting Fen
The land known as Lotting Fen measured about 50 acres, including approximately 23 miles of dykes and ninety-two fields (according to Sybil's father's reckoning).
The land itself has shrunk significantly due to draining practices and it now borders The Great Fen Nature Reserve.
In about 1881 there was a high flood (where Catchwater Bank joined Raveley Drain) and potatoes had to be gathered by moonlight so that people had food for the winter.
In the floods of 1912, the 'banks blowed' and the harvest had to be brought in by boat.
The fen housed a pumping mill, first built by a firm from Bury. But in 1874 disaster struck when in a strong wind 'off came her head'. After that it was rebuilt and Sybil's grandfather took charge then later her father.
Ugg Mere was next to Lotting Fen and this was drained at the same time as the rivers - the road running alongside still bears the name.
Turf digging on Lotting Fen was once a common practice and the turf was transported to Ramsey, Chatteris, March, Benwick, Whittlesey and Peterborough by boat pulled by a horse- another job held by Sybil's dad.
There were at least three brick kilns in the Chapel Road area of the fen making a variety of tiles. In the early days, the grinding machine at the centre of the mill was turned by a horse.
Walking to Ramsey across the fields was about three and a half miles but there was a shorter route via Biggin Fields.
Page updated
Report abuse