Sir William Dugdale was an antiquity and herald, most notable for his series of works on the history of English monasteries and St Paul’s Cathedral, the latter being one of the best sources for the appearance of the medieval church before its destruction in the Great Fire of London of 1666.

This book on the draining of fens and marshes was first published in 1661. Such projects were important initiatives during the Commonwealth period, creating thousands of acres of arable land, and this book was probably commissioned by the man behind the project, Lord Gorges, to advertise its success.