Sue Knight, Secretary

Why did you decide to join the Heritage Group?

I always had an interest in history so when I retired I started to research both my family history and the history of Holme where I live.  Several years ago, I attended one or two history talks at Ramsey Heights, about the Great Fen, and during a conversation I was invited to join the group. 

An added interest for me is that my husband’s family have lived in either Holme, Woodwalton or Ramsey St Marys since the 16^th century, so their story has been part of the history of the Great Fen area. During my research I discovered one of his ancestors, William Sharman, was one of the last wildfowlers on Whittlesey Mere whose added claim to “fame” is that he shot 24 birds in one go with his punt gun.

You do not have to have a family connection to have an interest in the Great Fen history though, there seems to have been something interesting happening in the Great Fen from every period of history ranging from the Neolithic period to the Spitfire crash during World War 2! The Great Fen staff also keep us updated as to what is happening now which is effectively history in the making.

What’s been the most interesting thing you’ve learned about the Great Fen so far?

Our current project is the Great Fen 1900 to 1950. We are putting together all the information we already hold about that period along with interviews with people whose parents or grandparents farmed here. We chose 1950 as the end point because mechanisation and the wider use of artificial fertilisers changed farming practices hereon. Perhaps the most interesting point revealed was the use of peat and molasses as a feed stuff for horses and cattle. We learned that the peat was dug from some of the farms on Woodwalton Fen, between 1917 to 1939, and taken to a factory on Speechley’s Farm. The end product was then loaded onto barges on New Dyke and taken to Holme Station to be loaded onto trains for distribution to the rest of the country.

What do you think new members would enjoy most about being a part of the group?

The existing members of the Group all have different interests in the Great Fen: either archaeology, plants, or other aspects, so we all learn from each other.  We are always learning something new and sometimes research can reveal what seems to be just a small piece of information yet added to the whole gives a fascinating bigger picture of things that happened in the past. It would be wonderful to have more people involved so we can learn even more.

Alan Malt, Archive 

Why did you decide to join the Heritage Group?

After being introduced to Helen Moore, the Education & Community Officer who was about to organise a Local Memories Day with Emma Pollard, I agreed to bring over and display a variety of my memorabilia. The day was very successful with over 90 adults and 30 children attending. The following week I went back to bring my collection home and got talking to Emma who was keen to form a Local History Group. She asked my opinion and if I would be interested. I immediately agreed. The first meeting took place at the classroom on 6th of April 2010, and I’ve been responsible for the archive ever since.

Looking after the archive I get to read all the articles, the transcripts of interviews and the work that fellow members have done, which I find fascinating.

What has been your favourite project to work on?

My own work is still my favourite, which was listing all the recorded species that lived in the area prior to the drainage of Whittlesey Mere, and specifically the number of plants that had medicinal properties and what they could have cured.  My specific interest in this subject is because my eldest sister remembered seeing rows of jars of liquids made of plant extracts in our Grandparents' kitchen in Woodwalton. Our Grandmother used to forage the plants locally and treat villagers with her herbal remedies in the 1920's and 30's. 

What do you think new members would enjoy most about being a part of the group?

Heritage is such a wide subject, from how the area has evolved over millions of years, the archaeological finds in the area, the people and how they lived in conditions that we would not tolerate today, their versatility and creativity. There are subjects galore and working in a group one can increase your knowledge by just listening to other people talk. We also have the occasional visit to a museum or place of interest.

Time commitments are whatever you can manage. Some subjects people may be more interested in than others, and people doing their own thing which is relevant to the area is always useful to add to our knowledge.

I believe it’s essential for people to realise that the species we enjoy today in the Great Fen are only because of what has happened in the past. The same is relevant to all our reserves and yet we are the only heritage group. HISTORY IS SO IMPORTANT! We’d love to welcome new members.

Want to be a part of the team?

The Great Fen Heritage Group usually meets in the classroom at the Ramsey Heights nature reserve at 10am on a Thursday roughly once a month.  We visit places of interest in the local areas and are hoping to visit the Whittlesey mud walls soon.

Whether you have specialist skills or a general interest in our links with the past, we would love to talk to you about what we do. Perhaps you have relevant photos, maps, documents or memories you could share with us.

Get in touch by calling the team on 01487 815524.