Portholme Meadow, Cambridgeshire

Map

The overlays that highlight 17th century London features are approximate and derived from Wenceslaus Hollar’s maps:

Open location in Google Maps: 52.321288, -0.184487

4 Annotations

First Reading

Pedro  •  Link

Originally posted under Brampton.

Brampton (Port Holme Meadows)

From the "Nature Atlas of Great Britain"
Dry/Wet meadow.
The river Ouse forks to run either side of this remarkable ancient meadow. It has been managed for hay in much the same way for centuries, allowing a wonderful range of wild flowers to prosper.
The footpaths, one of which runs along a route used by nuns at Hinchingbrooke, first cross dry meadow grassland characterised by lady's bedstraw, great burnet and pepper-saxifrage. In mid-summer the distinctive sound of yellow rattle seed heads will be heard as you brush past them. Wetter, lower lying parts in the middle have tubular water-dropwort, meadowsweet and marsh ragwort.
The river supports dragonflies including the scarce chaser. May and June are the best.
Flowers include fritillary, great yellow-cress, and meadow cranesbill. Birds include the corn bunting.

Second Reading

Bill  •  Link

Forty yards under the second railway bridge from the left bank a narrow stream leaves the river, and just by it we arrive at Portholme; this is a very large meadow being over 3 1/2 miles round, belonging chiefly to the Earl of Sandwich, the Duke of Manchester, and a few other gentlemen; it is entirely surrounded by water.
---Fishing, Fish Culture & the Aquarium. 1890.

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References

Chart showing the number of references in each month of the diary’s entries.

1661

1662

1664

1668