During the long Georgian age (1714-1830), Peterborough continued to develop as a busy market centre, benefiting from the rich agricultural land that surrounded the city.   The fens were by now being drained, but Daniel Defoe wrote in 1724 that wagons laden with wild duck were still being sent to London twice a week.

 

The city's excellent transport links did much to encourage its prosperity, although the roads themselves were often rough and dangerous. Between 1750 and 1840 many local roads were improved by Turnpike Trusts, which collected money from road users at toll gates. Within the city, however, the streets were dirty and difficult to negotiate, and wealthy visitors hired sedan chairs to carry them - indeed, the use of sedan chairs continued in Peterborough long after they went out of fashion elsewhere. It was not until 1790 that the Peterborough Pavement and Improvement Commission was set up specifically to improve the city's streets.

 

The River Nene had long played an important part in the life of the city. From 1761, after improvements upstream, the river was properly navigable from the seaport of Wisbech as far as Northampton. Much of Northamptonshire's agricultural output was carried down-river, while up-river came produce from north-east England and from Northern Europe - coal and building materials, especially timber, slate and glass.

 

The Militia lists of 1762 show that most local people still worked on the land, most commonly as labourer, farmer or shepherd.   Local trades also prospered, and carpenter, shoemaker, butcher, blacksmith, baker, mason and boatman were all popular occupations.   The very poor continued to receive money from the Feoffees, or to be housed in the workhouse.   In 1744 Edward Wortley Montague, a city MP, built a new workhouse in Westgate 'for the better accommodation of the poor of St John's parish'.

 

Law and order were controlled by the cathedral's Dean and Chapter through their Court of Petty Sessions, and by the Lord Paramount of the Liberty of Peterborough (the Marquis of Exeter at Burghley House) through the Soke Court.   The Lord Paramount maintained a prison in part of the old Abbey buildings. Most prisoners were held inside a wooden cage divided into two cells, but those accused of serious crimes were put in the 'condemned' cell.

 

Punishments were still harsh at this time, and the last public flogging was recorded in 1819 when a man accused of stealing was flogged by the constable in the Marketstede. In 1820 the gallows were moved to Fengate from their old site on the road to Millfield.