Muddy brilliant plan to save historic walls

The Whittlesey Mud Walls Group was formed in March to promote the historical boundary walls which were created in the late 18th century.

Robert Boddington (69) a member of the group, said there had been 26 walls but that the total was now down to 16, including just one in Eastrea where he lives.

He said: “We have seen the decline of the walls. We are concerned about a bit of heritage and history disappearing. We want to preserve what’s left.

“If they are maintained they are capable of carrying on for another couple of hundred years.

“The long term goal is to get the better ones listed.”

The group is seeking lottery funding to pay for training from building specialists on how to preserve the walls, which are 18 inches wide.

A particular concern is the state of the coping (roofs) of the walls which protect them from deteriorating quickly.

Robert is joined in the group by fellow members of Whittlesey Museum who agreed that action needed to be taken to stop more mud walls from disappearing.

He added: “They were originally boundary walls for properties in the town. There were lots and lots of them, but through the years they have got knocked down because they take up so much room.”

The group will hold its first public meeting in the car park of the Black Bull in Market Street during the Whittlesey Festival on September 11.

There will be a team of professional restorers from SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) who will be making a section of mud wall.