Diane gave us another of her wonderful talks bringing history to life. Her talk was based on her next Fenland Mystery book ‘Back to the Flood’, due to be published later this year.
She took us on a walk through Wisbech with the Bishop’s Seneschal, Roger of Abynton.
The names and places seemed so real, we could almost talk to the inhabitants and hear about their trials and tribulations harking back to the great flood of 1236. At the time (of course, before the draining and reclamation of the fenland) Wisbech was almost a coastal town and could be beset by water from land and sea. The floods of 1236 had devastated Wisbech and its surrounding villages.
Although this will be one of Diane’s works of fiction, her stories are based on fact from her researches in local history. Many of the people and places in this book are taken from the Ely Coucher Book.
Having real names and locations really help the audience connect. We recognised place-names, and we could visualise the butchers and the bakers as they passed on their tales. As an old town, much of Wisbech remains as it was, in name if not in construction. As Diane walked us through the market, we could all picture it in our heads peopled with the residents of the day going about their daily business.
We also recognised some of the institutions Diane had mentioned in previous talks and books, seeing how they fit into the economic, administrative, and spiritual life of the town and its inhabitants.
From the title of the talk and book we understood that much of Wisbech had been lost in the flood. Although set in 1249, some of the tradesman still had no premises from the floods of 1236. That this was actually the case for some people could be seen in the records of the Coucher Book.
Diane’s love for the people and places of the Fens comes through with her knowledgeable and entertaining talks. We look forward to many more ‘history or mystery’ books from her and learning more about the history of Wisbech and the Fens.