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This is the original course of the River Nene which still flows through Benwick, March and Upwell. In the early 1700's a straight channel was dug from Peterborough to Wisbech which much improved the water flow and drainage in the low lying fens and made this waterway less important in the complex drainage system of the area. The new section was initially called Smith's Leam but later renamed The River Nene and the section of the river it "replaced" is now The River Nene (Old course). http://www.northlevelidb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-Nature-of-the-Nene-Washlands.pdf