Following correspondence between the Hon and Revd Charles Lindsay, who later became chairman of the company, and Lord Hardwicke, on the potential benefits of the scheme, an engineer called John Watte was asked to undertake a survey and make a plan including the estimated costs of opening up the old river to create the Wisbech and Well Navigation.

That an application be made to the Honourable Corporation of Bedford Level, requesting their Permission to open the said River between Wisbech and Outwell, and to erect such Works as may be necessary for carrying the proposed Plan; into execution.

That Mr Jonathan Peckover, Banker in Wisbech, be appointed Treasurer for receiving the monies to be subscribed for carrying this plan into execution.

[2]The committee called a meeting at the Rose and Crown Inn, in Wisbech, on Friday 19 July 1793, to report back and progress the scheme.

[5] A notice published in the press states that the locks at either end would be of a similar length, this appears not to have been the case when they were constructed.

THE Committee of the WISBECH CANAL COMPANY give NOTICE, That they propose, during the present Summer, to erect Two LOCKS or PEN SLUICES the One at the North End of the intended Canal, adjoining Wisbech River, to be set on a regular Floor Timber, with Dove-tail Piles, and other Drift Work, to built with Brick, and to be about One Hundred Feet in length, Fourteen Feet Water-way, and about Fourteen Feet below Soil, with double Gates or Pointing Doors of Oak at each End, and a Carriage Bridge of Timber over the same: and the other Lock or Sluice at the South End of the said intended Canal near Outwell, to be built with Timber, of nearly the Dimensions before mentioned, with like Pointing Doors and Carriage Bridge.— The Plans and Sections of the Locks may seen at the Office of Messrs FAWSSETT and BELLAMY, in Wisbech, the 12th July next; and Notice will be given of the Time and Place for receiving Proposals, and contracting for the said Works, which are to be begun and completed without Delay.

[10] Because of the low level of the Fens landscape, the canal was constructed on embankments for most of its 5.25 mile (8.4 km) length, and was opened in 1797.

[15] A poaching case prosecution in 1907 revealed that the Sheffield Anglers Association had held the fishing rights for 15 years.

[18] All traffic ceased in 1922,[19] and the canal was formally abandoned on 14 June 1926, when a warrant for its closure was obtained from the Minister of Transport.

[21] The canal remained in a derelict state until the early 1960s, when the Wisbech end was filled in to allow the A1101 Churchill Road link to be built without destroying the historic town centre.