Ely Cathedral

The present Cathedral in Ely was started in 1083 the original Anglo-Saxon church was demolished although some relics, such as the benefactor's remains were moved to the Cathedral. The main transepts were built early on, crossing the nave below a central tower, and are the oldest surviving part of the cathedral. The West Tower (215 feet) was built between 1174 and 1197 and the Romanesque style of the west front shows that it was built in the 12th Century with the later addition of the Galilee porch (1198-1215). The west tower is about 65m high.

The cathedral is built from local stone with decorations in purbeck marble and local clunch. The plan of the building is cruciform (cross-shaped), with the altar  at the east end. The total length is 565 feet (172.2 m), with the nave over 75 m long.

In 1539, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Ely Cathedral suffered only minor damage, but St Etheldreda's shrine was destroyed. Ely Cathedral was soon refounded although many of the statues in the lady chapel were severely damaged.  The Bishop of Ely in the mid 17th century was Matthew Wren and in connection with this, his nephew Christopher Wren was responsible for a rather splendid Gothic door, dating from the 1650s, on the north face of the cathedral.