It seems like happy times but after visiting the brewery we went out for a pizza and to the little cinema in town to continue to celebrate Helen's birthday. The next day we had to have a good look around Wisbech.
North Brink was where many of the rich merchants lived with just the road separating them from the river. Previously they had lived above their warehouse below Town Quay where the seagoing vessels berthed. Opposite here the goods were transshipped into barges for onward transport. There were several of these towers. It was obviously so they could keep an eye on what was going on, and maybe escape the household with friends too.
The Crescent was built in 1792 by Joseph Medforth. He started life as a bricklayer but made a fortune when he went to London and became a property developer. He bought Wisbech Castle and built this crescent in the remains of the moat. He had many quarrels with the local council and it wasn't until years later that he built the other half of the crescent. Any where else and visitors would be flocking to see it.
Another gem of Wisbech that is not to be missed is the Wisbech and Fenland Museum. It is one of the earliest purpose built museums dating from 1847. The Wisbech Museum Society dates back to 1835. They have an original Charles Dickens Manuscript, and loads of stuff to see. Unfortunately it was built on the old Market Square that in turn had been built on the other side of the castle moat, so is liable to subsidence, and when we visited one room was closed off as the roof was in danger of collapse. There are plans to modernise it in a very sympathetic way.
The Octavia Hill Museum on South Brink is also well worth a visit. The house was built in 1740 but extended and split into two in 1750. Octavia Hill was born here in 1838. Here father was a corn merchant. The office was to the left and the family house to the right. Octavia grew up to be a leading social reformer. With her friend John Ruskin they were involved in social housing, educating the poor, ensuring there were open spaces in cities to enjoy and even starting the first Army Cadets in London. She is perhaps best remembered for been one of the founders of the National Trust in 1895. She died in 1912.
That evening we ate out at the pub closest to the brewery on the North Brink. The building dates from the late 18th Century and is a listed building. The front rooms have been knocked into one and the entrance is now down the side passage to the right. There is a further bar to the rear. It was very busy with diners and later we could see why the food was great, in expensive and in good quantity. It was a really nice atmosphere too with plenty of chat.
Sa the pub is owned by Elgoods it would have been churlish to try anything else, even if they had it on draft.
I had a pint of Cambridge Bitter at 3.8%. I think this is the brewery's best seller. It had a nice light brown bitter colour and a white head. It smells nice and fruity and uses Maris Otter barley for the light ale body, and and Fuggles and Challenger hops to give the light and fruity taste and dry finish. In truth it was a very good blend and well balanced drink. However it was far too warm for me. It was a very warm evening but it was served warm! I'm not a fan of chilled beer in the main, and I know the English have a reputation for drinking warm beer abroad, but even so this was too warm for me. I think 10/12C is supposed to be the optimum temperature for our beer to be served, but I may be wrong.
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