Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire
The word “unique” is often misplaced, but it certainly applies here
Ely Cathedral is one of England’s architectural masterpieces, made all the more stunning by its location in the fens of north Cambridgeshire, such that it can be seen rising majestically from its flat surroundings from many miles away.
The name “Ely” means “eel island”, and it was indeed an island when first settled by monks led by St Ethelreda in the 7th century. The first abbey was destroyed by the Danes in the late 9th century and only rebuilt as a Benedictine monastery in 970.
The present cathedral is Norman in origin, its construction having begun in 1083. William the Conqueror had experienced considerable resistance in this area, notably provided by the semi-legendary figure of Hereward the Wake who took advantage of his local knowledge of routes through the marshy fens to mount a guerrilla campaign against the Normans. William’s response was to build structures that would cow the locals into recognising his regime’s superiority, and Ely Cathedral was one such building.
Many styles
The cathedral took several centuries to complete, with long periods of inactivity dividing the building of various parts, so the architectural styles that can be seen today include…
