Wisbech Wisbech Wisbech ( ) is a Fenland market town, inland port and civil parish in the Fens of Cambridgeshire, England. It had a population of 31,573 in 2011. The town lies in the far north-east of the county, bordering Norfolk and only 5 miles (8 km) south of Lincolnshire. The tidal River Nene running through the town centre is spanned by two bridges. Before the Local Government Act 1972 came into force in 1974 Wisbech was a municipal borough. Wisbece was recorded in the 1086 "Domesday". The name Wisbech is believed to mean "on the back of the (River) Ouse",
Wisbech Canal All traffic passing between the canal and the Nene River was required to pay a toll, which was to be used to maintain the Well Creek. Because of the low level of the Fens landscape, the canal was constructed on embankments for most of its 5.25 mile (8.4 km) length, and was opened in 1797. Flood locks were constructed at both ends of the canal. The one at Outwell was long, but the one at Wisbech was only , and so longer boats wishing to enter or leave the canal at the Wisbech end had to wait for the levels