The Crescent, Wisbech

The Crescent
The Crescent, Wisbech
Location	Wisbech, England
Coordinates	52°39′50″N 0°09′36″E / 52.66383°N 0.16007°E / 52.66383; 0.16007
Built	c1793 - c1815
Architect	Joseph Medworth et al
Architectural style(s)	Georgian

The Crescent consists of rows of terraced houses and religious buildings laid out as a circus in the town of Wisbech, England. Initiated by the developer Joseph Medworth and built between 1794 and c1815, it is a rare examples of a Georgian circus to be found in the United Kingdom. Most properties have Grade I or Grade II listed building status. Although some changes have been made to the various sites over the years, much of the Georgian facade remains as it was when first built. This development now lies within the Wisbech Conservation Area.^[1]

Although locally referred to as The Crescent, the development consists of a circus including The Crescent, Union Place, Ely Place surrounding Medworth's former residence, the Regency period villa known as The Castle with two squares at either end (Museum Square and Castle Square). The museum was added in 1847 on a plot that had not belonged to Medworth. The two Places are separated by Market Street. This was created after Medworth bought from Mr John Powell a house that stood where the entrance to Market Street now is, and promptly demolished it. Later part of the Castle Estate was walled off to create a public space on which a war memorial was subsequently built.^[2]

Many notable people have either lived or stayed in the circus since it was built over 200 years ago, and some are commemorated on special plaques attached to the relevant buildings. Some of the circus townhouses are still in residential use, others have been converted into office accommodation. A modern public library now occupies the site of a former chapel and a former chapel was converted into a Freemasons lodge.