Back into the Fens!

Yes, I know I've change the blog title.  But I'm still a Fenlander at heart. This map shows that the  Boro was and is right on the Western edge of the Fens. This map from the Doomsday period was at least 600 years after the Romans started on Fen Drainage It was still a wet marshy place though until the a Dutchman continued with the project during the 18th century. 

Lots of major drainage dykes criss cross the area  with the result the land has shrunk below many of the old causeways through the marshes that later became roadways.

                   

 Another new roadway has been forged across the drained fenlands. A new route from Peterborough to Spalding, bypassing Eye. The Road builders underestimated the unpredictable structure of the land and the road developed cracks before it could be opened. It's taken over a year for the contractors to strengthen the foundations of the road. Never under estimate the substructure of fen soil. The Market Deeping to Boston road bypassing Spalding suffered the same fate when it was opened some years ago.

This is the substantial bridge is built over the ancient Roman canal called Cardyke. It was built to carry Roman provisions between Peterborough and Lincoln.  Now days it occasionally disappears from the landscape. The canal here, is really nothing to look at it could easily be mistaken for an ordinary drainage dyke.

The suns still shinning away here despite torrential downpours and floods across in the West of the Country. After lunch we decided to take a trip on the new road and visit our Home town of Spalding. The road has several very long stretches with gentle curves where there's ample opportunity for idiot, impatient drivers to show of their lack of driving skill. We had some prime examples of such idiot manoeuvres  coming home at peak driving time.

We pulled in at Springfield's, Spalding Outlet shopping precinct. It's quite a while since our last visit here. Some shops have gone and new shops opened. A whole new Avenue of shops have been opened and a Travel Lodge has been added. 

We saunter round the shops for a while. My favourite shop has gone. A shop selling card making paper and accessories but further along, where the Information and Museum was,  is a new craft outlet. The Museum is still there but smaller. The new shop  has a good range of papers but not such a good selection of art and craft materials, although it does have a limited range of knitting wool.  Oh yes, and a small area selling teas and coffees, much cheaper than the Costa's outlet further along. 

The last time I actually went around the gardens was many years ago when the Boys were still small and Springfields was still a garden to showcase Spalding's speciality,  spring bulbs. When the Shopping Outlet village was built all the gardens were redesigned and replanted. 

I still haven't managed all the gardens yet as walking distances give me much pain. But I managed just a short distance around a few gardens. One day I'll get to the see the gardens before going to the shops!

The small areas I ambled around were still splendidly colourful in the late Autumn sun. The rill running across the area that divides the shops from the gardens had been changed quite dramatically. Sections of the rill going under the bridge at the entrance to the gardens had been widened. The large Koi carp had been restricted to each ends of the remaining rill. The enlarged sections of water now have fountains and lights added and large Bose speakers stand on each side of the bridge.  The next evening musical secessions will be at the 'Firework night' and the switching on of the Christmas lights.

One the way back to the car we just had to visit the Outlet's  Garden Center. It's well stocked and had some colourful displays in the outdoor plant area. I managed to resist getting the purse out though!!

Cyclamen and ornamental cabbages.

Winter Heathers 

are they gourds or squashes?

On the way home we could see dark blue black clouds and lightning flashing across the Fen skies. The rain we could see in the distance, drenching some parts of the fens managed to miss us completely. All we got was a few spots that hardly made the road wet. So were still in a drought  situation while the West floods.