CROWLAND, (Lincolnshire) 71 cm. 83 mm. from London, had formerly an abbey, destroyed by the Danes, but rebuilt by K.
Eadred. Though this place is so inclosed with bogs, that it is not accessible, but on the N. and E. sides, and there only
by narrow causeys, yet it is pretty well inhabited, and consists of 3 streets, that are separated by water courses,
planted with willows, and built on piles, having a communication with one another, by a triangular bridge of curious
contrivance, at the conflux of the Nyne and Welland, each base whereof is said to be in a different Co. Their greatest
gain is from fish, and from wild ducks; of which sometimes they drive 3000 into a net at once by dogs; and they are
brought hither, by decoy ducks bred for the purpose. For the liberty of fishing, they pay now to the K. as they did
formerly to the abbot, 300 l. a rear. As no carts ever come here, by reason of the impassableness of the boggy soil, it
was a common proverb, " that all the carts, which come to " Crowland, were shod with silver;" but the soil is much
improved of late by drains and sluices; and most of the ponds are now turned into corn fields. The Mt. here is on S. and
the Fair Aug. 24. A causey leads from hence, bet. the r. Welland and the marshes on which, about 2 m. from Crowland, stood
a pyramid, with an inscription, denoting that it was the utmost boundary of the abbey's jurisdiction, which was in a sort
of island, 3 m. in length, and 3 in breadth. The roof of the abbey Ch. fell down 40 years ago. 'Twas of Irish oak, finely
carved and gilt; and pieces of it are to be found in almost every house. It was made a garrison in the late civil war.
Over the W. gate of the Ch. are the images of divers Ks. abbots, &c. and, among the rest, St. Guthliac (to whom the abbey
was dedicated) with a whip and knife, his usual symbols; and he lies buried in a little stone cottage, not far from the
abbey, called Anchor Church House, where was a chapel in which he lived a hermit. There being no pasture near them, the
people go in little skerries to milk the cows.