Wisbech is a market town and inland port with a population of about 20,000 in the Fenland area of Cambridge shire, The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges, The name is believed to mean on the back of the (River) Ouse, with Ouse being a common Celtic word relating to 'water, Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 coming into force in 1974 Wisbech was a municipal borough, It is now a civil parish in the Fenland district.