Wisbeach or Wisbech

[radstockjeff]

Can someone please enlighten me as to when the spelling of this town changed from Wisbeach to Wisbech.

Thanks

radstockjeff

[rosie99]

According to Genuki in Saxon times it was Wisbec

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/CAM/Wisbech/

I always thought Wisbeach was just a spelling error, written as it sounded but I am sure someone will correct me     

[Ruskie]

I can't see any reference to Wisbeach.

[catfordcrooner]

The only Wisbeach I can see is a Little Wisbeach in Lincolnshire

[radstockjeff]

I have a marriage entry on freebmd for Dec 1854  with Wisbeach.

radstockjeff

[JenB]

Samuel Lewis used 'Wisbeach' in 1835 http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/CAM/Upwell/UpwellGaz1835L.html

Also check the spelling against 'Gyherne' here http://www.rootschat.com/links/01elf/

It's Wisbeach here as well http://www.rootschat.com/links/01elg/

[Ruskie]

Interesting finds Jen.

So does that mean it was a variation of the spelling of Wisbech rather than a renaming as Jeff suggests?

[BumbleB]

I've been looking at the historical directories site:

1839 = Wisbeach
1869 = Wisbech
1883 = Wisbech

Added:  1851 = Wisbech

[JenB]

The origins and spelling of the name ‘Wisbech’ has caused confusion for both residents and visitors. The Saxon spelling was ‘Visbec’ whilst theDoomsday Book had ‘Wisebece’ and the 1379 Holy Trinity Seal ‘Wysbech’. The Universal British Directory of 1794 stated that: “the original name was Ouzebeach, the beach or outfall of the River Ouse, which flowed into the Welle Stream”. In his 1898 history F.J. Gardner writes that: “the original town [Wysebec] is believed to have been built between the two rivers, the Wyse, a little stream or ‘bec’ from Guyhirn, and the Great Ouse, the large river from Littleport”. Pigot’s Directory of 1830 notes that both ‘Wisbeach’ and ‘Wisbech’ were in common use. Eventually, the Corporation resolved to drop the ‘a’ in response to requests by postal and railway companies for a uniform spelling, but the old spelling is sometimes still seen today.

http://www.fenland.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2372&p=0