Crowle Peatland Railway marks 400 years since the drainage of Hatfield Chase
To mark the anniversary, Crowle Peatland Railway is hosting Vermuyden 400
Crowle Peatland Railway will commemorate one of the most significant events in the history of the Isle of Axholme and Hatfield Chase this September, with a special exhibition and programme of talks marking 400 years since
Dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden signed his contract with King Charles I to drain the region.In 1626, Vermuyden agreed to undertake the drainage of Hatfield Chase, a vast wetland covering parts of South Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and the Isle of Axholme.
The scheme was one of the most ambitious land reclamation projects in British history, and its consequences — engineering, social and environmental — continue to shape the landscape and communities of the region four centuries later.
To mark the anniversary, Crowle Peatland Railway is hosting Vermuyden 400, a free event taking place across four days as part of this year's Heritage Open Days festival, England's largest festival of history and culture.
Visitors will be able to explore an exhibition created by North Lincolnshire Museum, tracing the story of the 1626 contract and its lasting impact on the landscape, communities and heritage of the Isle of Axholme and Hatfield Chase.
Alongside the exhibition, daily talks will examine how Vermuyden planned and carried out his drainage works — the engineering challenges he faced, the workforce he assembled, and the methods used to transform one of England's great wetland landscapes.
The event runs on the following dates, with the site open 10am-4pm and talks at 11am and 2pm each day:
- Saturday 12 September 2026
- Sunday 13 September 2026
- Saturday 19 September 2026
- Sunday 20 September 2026
- Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, taking place every September and coordinated by the National Trust.
- Vermuyden 400 is a wider commemorative project marking the 400th anniversary of the 1626 drainage contract, with further information available at vermuyden400.org.uk and on Facebook.
- Further details on the Heritage Open Days listing: heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/vermuyden-400.html
The event takes place at Crowle Peatland Railway, The Old Peatworks, Dole Road, Crowle, Lincolnshire, DN17 4BL. Pre-booking is not required.