low lying area district lincolnshire england covers approximately square miles km2 bounded extensively drained efficient drainage land exercised minds great civil engineers 17th 18th centuries drainage schemes authorised reign group took control drainage return granted land faced problem sufficiently low enable proper drainage gravity schemes included improvement rivers engineer set standard engineering reports began work followed pioneer applying scientific principles civil engineering problems son capable engineer retained consultant resigned time surveyor works civil engineers assisted local engineers plans improvements chief steam pumping station plan implemented immediately steam engines fitted wheels installed pumping station largest time remained years steam gradually gave way diesel engines wheels replaced pumps diesel engines replaced electric motors beam engine wheel ran scrapped visited public managed trustees appointed terms act parliament obtained year remained case administrative structure replaced location low lying area bounded meet northern tip covering square miles km2 originally extra liberty formed waste land previously belonged number parishes reclaimed free land tax ecclesiastical half parish nicholas civil parish reforms authorised act parliament derived means deep low place village listed book inventory country compiled history people market james villages presented petition elizabeth requesting drained banks river neighbouring poor state repair suggested undertake work cost received acres land reclaimed result work unrest early resulted works destroyed group led earl granted permission drain south work included making deeper wider james construction drains included drain running known drain called sir declared completed efficient drainage wait construction pumping station drainage addressed act awarded earl manchester acres land return drainage works obliged maintain banks bad weather stopped completing task tried renting land granted tenants unable pay rent poor state drainage reduced crop yields april received letter captain expressing opinion way improve drainage improve river proposing construction river drain perry engineer set standard engineering reports published recommendations plans approved offered land covering nearly acres payment work sold land finance project began work foot wide gates operated chains connected high tide water penned banks set main channel low tide gates opened flow river bed miles downstream perry died february works completed buried churchyard perry succeeded arrived region request duke wanted estates surveyed perry building time work allowed study drains banks formed opinion mathematical philosophical principles applied drainage low lying regions surveyed parish little downstream assess drainage improved commissioners demonstrated use spirit level enabled achieve accurate levels errors inch mile addressed issue flow open drains mathematical principles calculated water drain miles long fall inches length travel feet second taking hour minutes travel length drain observations field showed factors fluid friction resulted actual flow rate half published paper findings april insisted accurate mapping levels physical observation drains rivers essential deciding best drained month began working produce drainage scheme spent time mapping miles chief recommendation reservoir enable low tide releasing water reservoir july smith set plans bill parliament allow raise estimated cost taxes act granted smith appointed agents oversaw programme repairs ran miles south eastern edge protecting ran miles far river river deeper constructed reservoir mouth reservoir covered acres provided water channel drainage mills constructed foot wheel drain hill drain bed banks raised smith retired took sole charge works oversaw job making deeper wider suggested drain moved miles downstream existing position implemented immediately son completed task died having pioneer applying scientific principles civil engineering problems took surveyor works death father spent nearly repairs country bank rebuilt perry soon taller doors set tide gates prevent tide moving upstream drainage mills built followed engaged lowering bed feet surveyor works continued act consultant engineer devised scheme cut new channel junction estuary river boston end mile cut huge navigation lock asked second opinion suggested shorter mile cut requested help proposed mile cut drain moved downstream father suggested improvements drain carried act parliament obtained act obtained cut work carried shorter cut built new act inundated civil engineers asked assist local engineers clear understanding high allow proper drainage gravity possible solutions considered lower level involve hugh expense construction second favoured provision steam pumping engines pump water internal drains drain lower internal water levels allow existing wind powered drainage mills work efficiently report produced formed basis act channel deeper north bank stronger crossed join drain deeper time steam engines working recommendation steam pumping station implemented pumping stations reports provision steam engines authorised act land formed lower level intended water different levels drain powerful engine built pump time details finalised engines horsepower horsepower ordered engines beam engines larger manufactured called holland engine drove wheel feet diameter wheel lifted water feet smaller engine called engine drove similar wheel operational august having cost pumping station largest time remained years upgrading plant occurred times holland engines overhauled respectively flow wheel pits restricted provision rising breasts fitted outflow height water discharged varied water level drain varied new boilers supply engine fitted replaced time new boilers failed year engine wheel removed rest plant scrapped horsepower twin cylinder diesel engines installed aid steam plant second scrapped following demise steam engines horsepower cylinder diesel engine drove inch pump obtained electric pump installed joined engines decommissioned new engine house built held horsepower diesel engines driving inch pumps horsepower unit fitted inch pump remaining engine electric pump scrapped time districts south region covering acres lying west drain originally managed trustees independent occupants approached trustees plan drain water pumps tunnel existed drain trustees agreed charges levied trustees service rose dramatically south residents decided build pumping engine beam engine driving foot wheel installed cost considerably charge trustees wanted engine replaced gas engine pump decommissioned oil engine inch pump installed lasted years electric motors driving inch inch pumps fitted following failure work carried act effectively drain area act parliament obtained create separate district called district water acres feeds blue drain horsepower beam engine driving foot wheel installed new boiler installed engine wheel continued operate making beam engine wheel combination ran longest time function replaced electric pumps fitted pump south plant retained open public steam engine turned electric motor management trustees appointed terms act continued replaced internal drainage board subsequently renamed
Deeping Fen