Wisbech

Wisbech (pronounced wiz'-beach) is a town with a population of about 19,000 in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire. The River Nene runs through the centre of the town. The name means mouth of the (River) Ouse.

Famous people associated with Wisbech

• Thomas Clarkson, the anti-slavery campaigner, was from Wisbech and was educated at Wisbech Grammar School. The Clarkson Memorial was built to commemorate his life, and is situated on the south bank of the Nene, near to the old bridge.
• Octavia Hill, co-founder of the National Trust, was born in Wisbech.
• Octavia Hill's sister Miranda Hill, probably also born at Wisbech, founded the influential Kyrle Society, a progenitor of the National Trust.
• Sir Harry Kroto, 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, for the discovery of fullerenes.
• Anton Rodgers, actor, born in Wisbech.