[2] It lies in the south of the Fens, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the city of Ely, and is home to Prickwillow Museum,[3] which tells the story of the changing face of Fenland.

Today's village lies on the site of the old riverbank,[6] with evidence of the original course remaining in the name of the roads (e.g. Old Bank) and the meandering edges of the neighbouring fields (visible on this satellite image).

[citation needed] Much of the Prickwillow area lies below sea level so, in order to ensure that the land remained arable, a series of steam pumping engines were installed at the base of the newly dug drain, linked to the River Lark.

The group consists of ten internal drainage boards (IDBs) whose boundaries extend to the New Bedford River and Welney to the west and Mildenhall and Lakenheath to the east.

In addition, owing to the high water table, church burials take place in the more elevated settlement of Ely.

The B1104 between Prickwillow and neighbouring Isleham is reputedly the most subsidence affected road in the country; so undulating is the 6.4-mile (10.3 km) drive that some have experienced bouts of motion sickness equal to that of seasickness.

Some persons passing by heard a strange gurgling sound in the ditch, and made a search, when they found the unfortunate Burt immersed and nearly exhausted; of course they rescued him.

The owner used to invite young London couples up to stay and lay on entertainment – shooting, hunting, fishing and the like – for the gentlemen in question, and then disport himself with their wives.