A Google search ‘fenland council tourism’ draws a familiar blank – ‘404 page not found’. And a website set up just over a decade in a fanfare of civic pomp seems to have suffered a similar fate.
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
“Tourism is the key to the countryside, Adam Henson told industry representatives as they watched him press the button to launch the new Cambridgeshire Fens website,” it was reported at the time.
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
“The general public are more engaged with food and farming as they have been for many years, and for Fenland District Council to support tourism by using a multi-media platform is wonderful, it is the way forward,” he said.
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
The website offered an “online destination to discover all that’s great about this fantastic part of England, to find accommodation for your stay and to discover more about the area.
Advertisement
Advertisements
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
“You will find a wealth of information about things to do and places to go, to gain inspiration about how to spend your time here”.
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
Wisbech once even boasted its own standalone tourism office, and popular it was too.
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
Visitors might still come, in decreasing numbers, but the council seems ambivalent about their fate and destiny when they do arrive.
Advertisements
Advertisements
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
Ironically, the website was truthful about this statement:
The four vibrant market towns – Whittlesey, Chatteris, March and Wisbech, the ‘capital of the fens’ – are rich in history and well worth a visit in their own right. With a wide choice of accommodation, pubs, and restaurants, why not stop off, explore the hidden backs streets, and sample the fresh local produce at one of the many restaurants and pubs?
But it’s often more by luck than a well planned tourism strategy that visitors find out about the Fens.
Horsefair car park. Town Centre, Wisbech Tuesday 23 July 2024. Picture by Terry Harris
CambsNews asked photographer Terry Harris – whilst on a separate assignment – to remind us of how fascinating Wisbech remains.
His portfolio of images reflect a town steeped in history but lacking in promotion.
Advertisement
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
‘Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens, is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all,” says the now mothballed Fens tourism website. PHOTO: Terry Harris
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
