History of Ely

History of Ely, in Cambridgeshire

Nick Collins
8 min readMar 15, 2023

Ely has a rich history dating back to the 6th century, when St Etheldreda founded a monastery here after fleeing from East Anglia. She was the daughter of King Anna and sister of King Sigebryht, but she renounced her royal bloodline to become a nun and live at Ely Abbey. The story goes that she had been betrothed against her will as part of an alliance between kingdoms, but escaped with the help of some loyal monks who rowed her down the River Cam.

Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash

Ely Cathedral

The cathedral is the largest in the UK and its historic importance has been recognised by UNESCO, who granted it World Heritage status in 1995. Located on an island in the River Great Ouse (Ely means “island”), it was founded as a monastery by St Æthelthryth in 672 and later became a cathedral following her death.

The current building dates from 1083 with additions made throughout the medieval period until 1534 when Henry VIII ordered all religious houses to be dissolved. During this time, many treasures were lost or destroyed, including some magnificent stained glass windows which were smashed during riots against Henry’s rule.

After being used as an army barracks during World War II, Ely Cathedral was restored between 1958–1969 thanks largely due to donations received from members of The Friends of Ely Cathedral Trust Fund — now known simply as ‘Friends’ — an organisation dedicated solely towards preserving this historic site for future generations

The history of Ely is closely linked to the city’s cathedral.

Ely Cathedral is the second largest cathedral in England, after Canterbury. It is also a Grade I listed building, first built in 672 and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The present structure was mostly constructed between 1083 and 1108, although some earlier features remain visible.

The church was first built by St Etheldreda (or Audrey), who founded an abbey there in 673 AD; this makes it one of only two cathedrals dedicated to women saints in England (St Albans being the other).

St Etheldreda
Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash

The first cathedral was built in 672, and the current one was built in 1083.

In the year 672, King Aethelred of Mercia gave the land to St. Egbert for him to build a monastery and church. The first cathedral was built on this site, but over time it fell into disrepair and was demolished by Vikings in 870. It took until 1083 for another cathedral to be built on its ruins — this time as part of Ely Abbey by Abbot Simeon (who also built Westminster Abbey). This building served as Ely’s main place of worship until 1541 when Henry VIII dissolved all religious institutions, except those belonging directly under his control; at that point, services were moved into nearby churches while work began on converting Ely into an episcopal palace and college.

In 1637 King Charles I ordered that all cathedrals should undergo renovations; however, since funds were scarce during wartime conditions he decided not only where repairs needed to be done, but also what materials could be used so long as they didn’t cost more than 3 pounds per tonne per mile (about USD$5 today). Due largely due to these restrictions — and also because many people feared being taxed excessively if they spent too much money — many projects were delayed or cancelled entirely during this period, which lasted until 1660 when Charles II ascended the throne following Cromwell’s death at Naseby.

Charles II
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

The original building was destroyed by Vikings and rebuilt several times, but it has never been destroyed.

Ely Cathedral was built in 672, but it was destroyed by Vikings and rebuilt several times. The current cathedral was constructed in 1083, and it has never been destroyed. This is because Ely is located on the River Great Ouse, which runs through the city of Ely and connects it with other towns along its banks.

Because of its location on this riverbank, Ely became an important trading center in medieval times; merchants from all over Europe came here to trade goods such as wool and grain for salt from Norway or fish from local riverside communities such as Grantchester where people still live today (but now mostly commute elsewhere for work).

In 1646, during the English Civil War, Parliamentary troops were billeted at the cathedral.

In April 1647 a clergyman made a reference from the pulpit that could have been interpreted as being against them and they fired their muskets over it.

They were supposed to keep out of sight during services, but their presence became known and one day a clergyman made a reference from the pulpit that could have been interpreted as being against them.

When the cathedral was built, it was intended that the soldiers should be hidden in the building during services, but their presence became known and one day a clergyman made a reference from the pulpit that could have been interpreted as being against them. This led to demands for their removal, which were refused by Ely’s dean and chapter.

Photo by Fas Khan on Unsplash

A soldier then fired his musket over the choir stalls at him and injured him seriously enough for him to die soon after.

In 1643, during the English Civil War, a soldier was quartered in Ely Cathedral. He had been stationed there because of its location near Cambridge and because it was an important religious building.

A quarrel occurred between him and the vicar of Ely over some matter relating to religion or politics; accounts differ as to what happened next, but it seems that the soldier insulted the vicar who then struck him with his cane (a stick used by bishops). The soldier drew his sword and wounded the vicar badly enough for him to die soon afterwards.

The soldier was tried for murder, but found not guilty on account of self-defense because he had been provoked by an insult from the vicar.

On Wednesday, October 16th, 1849, the parishioners of Ely were shocked to hear that their vicar had been murdered. The Reverend Thomas Richardson was a well-liked man and his death came as a great shock to all who knew him.

The accused was Private William Smith, who was stationed at Ely Barracks with his regiment; he claimed that he had acted in self-defence after being provoked by an insult from Mr Richardson.

The history of Ely is closely linked to this medieval cathedral which dominates its skyline

The history of Ely is closely linked to this medieval cathedral which dominates its skyline. The building has been rebuilt several times since its original construction in 672 AD and is now a place of pilgrimage for many visitors as well as being the oldest building in Ely.

The cathedral was first built by St Etheldreda, who became abbess of Ely at age 13 after fleeing from Northumberland where she had been forced into marriage with a pagan king named Tonbert or Tondbert (depending on which source you believe). She established a nunnery on an island within the River Great Ouse near what was then called “Iggeforde” (now known as Littleport) before moving it closer to Ely later on when her brother King Anna agreed that she could build churches wherever she liked within his kingdom — this eventually led to them becoming one parish after they both died without issue so they could be buried together!

Finding the right company for External Rendering in Ely, Cambridgeshire

If you’re in the market for external rendering in Ely, you’ll no doubt be looking for the right company to do the job. But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips for finding the right company for house rendering in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Firstly, it’s important to do your research. Start by looking online for companies in your area that offer external rendering services. Take a look at their websites, read customer reviews and testimonials, and check out their social media pages to get a sense of their reputation and the quality of their work.

Secondly, consider what type of external rendering you’re looking for. There are different types of rendering, including cement, acrylic, and lime renders, and different companies may specialise in different types. Make sure the company you choose has experience and expertise in the type of rendering you’re looking for.

Thirdly, look for a company that offers a free consultation or quote. This will give you the opportunity to discuss your project with the company and get a sense of their approach, as well as their pricing and timeline. It will also give you the chance to ask any questions you may have and get a better understanding of what’s involved in the external rendering process.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s a good idea to ask for references or examples of previous work. A reputable company should be happy to provide you with this information, and it will give you a sense of the quality of their workmanship and their attention to detail.

Ultimately, finding the right company for external rendering in Ely comes down to doing your research, asking the right questions, and choosing a company that has the experience, expertise, and reputation to deliver a high-quality result. With the right company by your side, your external rendering project can be a success, leaving your property looking better than ever.

medieval cathedral
Photo by Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash

Conclusion

The history of Ely is closely linked to this medieval cathedral which dominates its skyline. It has been destroyed by Vikings and rebuilt several times, but it has never been destroyed. In 1646, during the English Civil War, Parliamentary troops were billeted at the cathedral. They were supposed to keep out of sight during services, but their presence became known and one day a clergyman made a reference from the pulpit that could have been interpreted as being against them. A soldier then fired his musket over the choir stalls at him and injured him seriously enough for him to die soon after.

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Nick Collins

Artists, Textile Designer, Web Designer, SEO Expert and Web Marketing Expert. Web Design Newcastle - https://webdesignnewcastle.co.uk/