Wisbech Tourist Information

Wisbech is a prosperous Georgian town. The North Brink, Crescent and Museum Square are amongst the finest examples of Georgian Street architecture in the country.

The town grew up around its port, trading from medieval times but flourishing commercially with the draining of the Fens in the 17th century.

The Georgian streets and houses in Wisbech were the ideal location for the BBC to film their costume drama David Copperfield. The locations chosen were The Crescent (London and Canterbury), The Castle (Mr. Wickfields home) and Peckover House (Mrs. Steerforth's House).

The original Norman Castle was built in 1072 - the castle moat determined the plan of all later development. The present 'castle' is a decorous Regency villa, built by Joseph Medworth, a local builder and developer in 1816. He also built the two crescents of fine Georgian houses, which run to the North and South of the castle grounds.

Peckover House - passed to the National Trust by the Peckovers, a Quaker banking family is well worth a visit to see the wealth and elegance of the wood and plaster decoration inside. Much of it is very elaborate with panelled walls and fine Georgian fireplaces with carved over mantels.

Octavia Hill Museum - Wisbech is the birthplace of Octavia Hill, co founder of the National Trust. The house opened as a museum in 1995 and commemorates and records her life and work for housing reform.

Wisbech and Fenland Museum - is an early example of a purpose built museum; still retaining much of it's Victorian atmosphere with its main gallery and walkway and fine mahogany cases.

Elgoods Brewery - Real ales have been brewed on the site of the North Brink Brewery for more than 200 years. The present owners, the Elgood family mashed their first brew in 1878 and have continued to produce fine traditional ales ever since. The Brewery is open for guided tours and beer tasting and the established 4 acre brewery Garden has recently been restored and is also open for visitors.

The focus for arts in Fenland, are the Angles Theatre and the Empire Theatre in Wisbech, which offer a wide range of arts.