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ElyEly was once known as the Elge or Elig, meaning eel island, due to the large number of eels that lived in the surrounding Fenland. Today the City is best known for its Cathedral, which dominates the sky line, and orginally created by Queen Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria, when she founded a monastry on the 'Isle of Ely' in 673AD.The Cathedral was built between 1081 and 1189. Today, one of its most outstanding features is the Octogan, a tower built to replace the original Norman tower which collapsed in 1322. Ely Cathedral has many other features within its walls and is well worth a visit. The town has a rich and interesting history, following the trail of Oliver Cromwell, Ely has one of the two remaining houses (the other being Hampton Court) where Cromwell was known to have lived. There is also Ely Musuem which tells the history of the town, the Stained Glass Museum (which is the only one in Britain) or the Stretham Old Engine and Prickwill Engine and Drainage Museum which tell the story of Fenland drainage. Today, Ely is a lively market town that has grown alongside the meandering Great River Ouse, with its rich history there are many attractions to tempt visitors and tourists alike; hosting one of the largest general markets in the area on Thursdays. Soham, near Ely, is a lively market town and was established around an Abbey, founded by St Felix in 630AD effectively making Soham the first centre of Latin Christianity in Cambridgeshire; predating Ely by some 40 years. St Andrew's Church now stands on the site of the orginal Abbey and is a fine example of the Perpendicular style of English Gothic Architecture.
Soham Mere was the route to Ely by boat until windmills were introduced and the Fens drained. Downfield Windmill still stands and is a good example of a working mill. The town has 3 commons as well Horse Fens and Charity Land resulting from strip farming methods and medieval land rights which provides plenty of green spaces to play and walk on. |
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