Whittlesey, often written Whittlesea, is an ancient market town. It is 82 miles from London.

In 1900 in was decribed this way: The Wash, which forms an extensive portion of this parish, is about seven miles long, and varies from half a mile to one mile and a quarter in width. The land is mainly used for farming, but for many months in the year is covered with water to a depth of several feet. There are ferry-boats at several parts of the Wash. Wild fowl and migratory birds abound in the vicinity. The navigable river Nene and the Whittlesey dyke run on either side of the town.