Editing Wisbech (section)

=== Norman ===
The folktale of [[Tom Hickathrift]] or Wisbech Giant is sometimes set about the time of the [[Norman Invasion]].

In 1086, when Wisbech was held by the abbot, there may have been some 65 to 70 families, or about 300 to 350 persons, in Wisbech manor. However, Wisbech (which is the only one of the Marshland vills of the Isle to be mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]]) probably comprised the whole area from [[Tydd Gote]] down to the far end of [[Upwell]] at [[Welney]].<ref>Wisbech: Manors', A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 4: City of Ely; Ely, N. and S. Witchford and Wisbech Hundreds (2002), pp. 243–245.</ref>

A castle was built by [[William I of England|William I]] to fortify the site. At the time of Domesday (1086) the population was that of a large village. Some were farmers and others were fishermen.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.localhistories.org/wisbech.html|title=Wisbech|website=Local Histories|access-date= 24 August 2019}}</ref>

[[Richard I]] gave Wisbech a charter exempting the residents from paying tolls at markets across England.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Samuel |title=A Topographical Dictionary of England |date=1848 |location=London |pages=625–629 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp625-629 |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref> King [[John of England]] visited the castle on 12 October 1216 as he came from [[King's Lynn|Bishop's Lynn]]. Tradition has it that his baggage train was lost to the incoming tide of [[The Wash]]. Treasure hunters still seek the lost royal treasure.<ref>{{cite book |title=The mystery of King John's treasure |author= Shirley Carter |year= 2018 }}</ref>

On 12 November 1236 the village of Wisbech was inundated by the sea. Hundreds were drowned, entire flocks of sheep and herds of cattle were destroyed, trees felled and ships lost.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1236-11-12 |url=https://www.surgewatch.org/events/1236-11-12/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=SurgeWatch |date=12 November 1236 |language=en-US}}</ref> The castle was "utterly destroyed" but was rebuilt by 1246 when the constable or keeper was William Justice.

King [[Edward II of England|Edward II]] visited Wisbech in 1292, 1298, 1300 and 1305.<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Vol 4, City of Ely, N. and S. Witchford and Wisbech Hundreds |pages=251–252 |publisher=Victoria County History |year=2002}}</ref>

[[Wisbech Grammar School]] dates back to 1379 or earlier. The register of Bishop [[John Fordham (bishop)|John Fordham]] of Ely records the appointment of a Master of the Grammar Scholars in 1407.