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Upwell sits on the border of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, roughly six miles south of Wisbech. It is essentially a linear village, following the course of the River Nene (Old Course) and merging almost seamlessly with the neighbouring parish of Outwell. Historically, the village was defined by the landscape of the Fens; until the drainage of the 17th century, this was a marshy environment accessible largely by water. The prominent St Peter’s Church, which has elements dating back to the 13th century, remains the village's focal point, notable for its ornate "angel roof" and its proximity to the water. While much of the surrounding land is flat and agricultural - primarily used for orchards and arable farming - the village itself maintains a quiet, self-contained character. The river, which once served as a busy commercial artery for small cargo craft, is now used mostly by narrowboats and pleasure cruisers, though it still dictates the village’s layout. Local amenities are concentrated along the main road that hugs the riverbank, and the village retains several traditional buildings made of local brick. The Upwell Tramway, which once famously connected the village to Wisbech and inspired some of the Rev. W. Awdry’s stories, is long gone, but the sense of being a distinct, hardworking community on the edge of the reclaimed Fens persists.