Sir Cornelius Vermuyden
Sir Cornelius Vermuyden was born in 1595 and died in 1677. He was a Dutch engineer who revolutionised the drainage system across parts of England. He was particurly famous for repairing the walls of the River Beam. He also built a sluice allowing the River Beam to flow into the River Thames. He was knighted for his work on drainage in 1621.
A sluice is a sliding gate or other device for controlling the flow of water.