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Priory Farm, Wicken

History of Priory farm

Priory Farm, Wicken, OS 1901

Plan of local area, Wicken, from ‘The Farm in the Fen’.

See ‘The Farm in the Fen‘ by Alan Bloom, 1943 pub. Faber and Faber. The author describes how he purchases the farm just before WWII. It lies next to the National Trust Wicken Fen reserve, and like much of the local farmland has been neglected for many years and is in a poor condition for agricultural with inadequate drainage. The advent of WWII changes everything and the restoration of farmland for food production is a national priority. The book is a vivid account of life for farmers in the fens, the peculiar issues of the drainage and the various roles of the many individuals involved.

Such was the national interest in land reclamation that Burwell Fen was visited by the King in 1942. Signs were set up to show what areas of reclaimed land were being used for now. The King was accompanied by the Queen, the Minister of Agriculture, the Duke of Norfolk and Tom Williams MP. Land girls from Manchester dug bog oaks and drove tractors. Local men were digging out six-foot dykes. After 2o minutes the Royal Party left the site back to the Cock-Up bridge.

Priory Farm in 1939 (from. The Farm in the Fen)

Priory Farm in 1943 (from. The Farm in the Fen)

Burwell Lode improved culvert (from The Farm in the Fen)

Skull found on farm dated c.3,000 old (from The Farm in the Fen)

Ditching by hand, Priory Farm c.1943 (from The Farm in the Fen)

Last remaining pumping windmill is area of Priory Farm c.1943 (from The Farm in the Fen)

Digging out a bog oak, Priory Farm c.1943 (from The Farm in the Fen)

Pile of bog oaks 200 yards long and 5 yards wide, Priory farm c.1943 (from The Farm in the Fen)

The Mill, Priory farm c.1943 (from The Farm in the Fen)

Riddling potatoes, King Edwards on priory farm c.1943 (from The Farm in the Fen)

Harrison’s Drove 1940, Priory farm (from The Farm in the Fen)

Harrison’s Drove 1943 with new concrete surface, Priory farm (from The Farm in the Fen)

 

 

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