ELY England Walking Tour 🇬🇧 | Step Inside UK Historic Cathedral City | 4K HDR

ELY England Walking Tour 🇬🇧 | Step Inside UK Historic Cathedral City | 4K HDR

Welcome to Ely, England 4K Walking Tour Ely is a cathedral city and civil parish located in the East Cambridgeshire district of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies around 14 miles (23 km) north-northeast of Cambridge, 24 miles (39 km) southeast of Peterborough, and 80 miles (130 km)- from London. As per the 2021 census, the population of Ely stands at approximately 19,200. The city sits on a 23-square-mile (60 km²) Kimmeridge Clay island, which rises to 85 feet (26 m) above sea level, making- it the highest point in the Fens. Unlike the surrounding Fenland, which was waterlogged, Ely remained an island until the drainage of the Fens in the 17th century. Several major rivers, including the Witham, Welland, Nene, and Great Ouse, once fed the Fens, creating freshwater marshes and meres that fostered- the formation of peat. After drainage, the fertile peat soil supported extensive farming in the region. Historically, the River Great Ouse was a key transport route until Ely ceased to be an island. Today, it is a popular spot for boating and home to a large marina. Despite now being landlocked, Ely is still referred to as the Isle of Ely. The city is home to two Sites of Special Scientific Interest: a former Kimmeridge Clay quarry and one of the best-preserved medieval- ridge and furrow agricultural sites in the UK. Ely’s economy is largely agricultural, with eel fishing, wildfowling, peat extraction, and the harvesting of osier and sedge being important activities in- the past. The city’s name may be linked to its history of eel fishing. Additionally, Ely was a center for pottery production, with Babylon ware being a notable product. A Roman road called Akeman Street runs through Ely, although little direct evidence of Roman occupation in the city remains. Nearby Roman settlements include Little Thetford and Stretham. A coach route between Ely and Cambridge existed as early as 1753 and was improved as a turnpike in 1769, with the- modern A10 road following a similar path. Ely railway station, built in 1845, is an important railway hub with connections to King’s Lynn, Peterborough, Norwich, Ipswich, Cambridge, and London. In 1189, Henry II granted Ely its first annual fair, Saint Etheldreda’s, which ran for seven days. The term “tawdry” is said to have originated from the cheap lace sold at this fair. A weekly market has been held in Ely since at least the 13th century, with present-day markets taking place on Thursdays, Saturdays,- and Sundays, alongside a farmers’ market twice a month.Ely hosts annual events such as the Eel Festival in May, which began in 2004, and a fireworks display in Ely Park, first held in 1974. Ely has been twinned with Ribe, Denmark’s oldest town, since 1956. Ely City Football Club was established in 1885. Ely is situated within the region historically known as the Isle of Ely, which functioned as an administrative county between 1889 and 1965. The name “Ely” is believed to mean “island of eels,” referring to the eels commonly caught in the local rivers for food,- an interpretation first recorded by the Venerable Bede. West Cambridgeshire is primarily composed of Jurassic period limestones, while the east consists of Cretaceous chalks, locally known as clunch. The Isle of Ely sits between these formations on Lower Greensand from the Cretaceous period, topped by Boulder Clay. Other nearby settlements, such as Stretham and Littleport, are located on similar islands that rise above the flat plains of Britain, which- are made up of Jurassic clays or muds. Kimmeridge Clay lies beneath the Lower Greensand, which is visible, for example, around one mile south of Ely at the Roswell Pits. Glacial deposits partially cap the Lower Greensand, creating the highest point in East Cambridgeshire at 85 feet (26 m) above sea level in Ely. Until the 17th century, Ely was an island surrounded by vast fenland, a type of swamp. Its natural isolation made it strategically important and easy to defend, with control of the area held by the Gyrwas, an Anglo-Saxon- tribe, during the early medieval period. In 652, Prince Tondbert of the Gyrwas gave the Isle of Ely to Æthelthryth (later St. Æthelthryth), daughter of King Anna of the East Angles, as a marriage gift. Æthelthryth later founded a monastery in Ely, which was destroyed by Vikings in 870 but rebuilt, eventually becoming a renowned abbey and shrine. Ely’s natural defences played a significant role in England’s military history. After the Norman Conquest, the Isle became a refuge for Anglo-Saxon forces led by Earl Morcar, Bishop Aethelwine, and Hereward the Wake- in 1071, who resisted William the Conqueror for some time. During the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda in 1139, Bishop Nigel of Ely unsuccessfully attempted to hold the Isle. In 1143, Geoffrey de Mandeville made the Isle his base during his rebellion against Stephen, though he was fatally wounded the following year. In 1216, during the First Barons’ War, the Isle was unsuccessfully defended against King John’s forces. Ely also participated in the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt and played a role during the English Civil War, where it was held by parliamentarians. Troops from nearby Wisbech Castle were used in the siege of Crowland, and parts of the Fens were flooded to prevent Royalist advances. The draining of the Fens, which began in 1626 and involved a network of canals designed by Dutch engineers, faced opposition from- locals whose livelihoods depended on the wetlands. Despite acts of sabotage, the draining was completed by the late 17th century. From 1109 to 1837, the Isle of Ely was governed by the Bishop of Ely, who held temporal power and appointed officials such as the Chief Justice of Ely. The Isle was established as a county palatine under the bishop’s authority by a charter from King Edgar in 970, later confirmed by Edward the Confessor and Henry I. In 1536, the palatine status ended, but the bishop retained significant civil and criminal jurisdiction. The Liberty of Ely Act of 1837 transferred the bishop’s secular powers to the crown and merged the Isle with Cambridgeshire, though- it maintained separate legal and law enforcement systems for some time. In 1889, the Isle of Ely became a separate administrative county under the Local Government Bill. Though its small size led to proposals for abolition in 1947, it remained a county until 1965, when it was merged with- Cambridgeshire to form Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely, with part of its territory transferred to Huntingdon and Peterborough. Ely experiences a relatively dry climate, with Cambridgeshire receiving an average annual rainfall of 24 inches (600 mm), making it one of- the driest counties in the British Isles. Shielded from the cool coastal breezes coming from the east, the county tends to have warm summers and cold, frosty winters. Regional weather forecasts and historical data can be accessed through the UK Met Office, with the nearest weather station located in Cambridge. Additionally, local weather stations, such as those on Weather Underground, provide periodic updates online. The large and old structure in front of us is the renown Ely Cathedral. Ely Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is an Anglican cathedral located in Ely, Cambridgeshire,- England. Its origins date back to the abbey founded in 672 by St.Æthelthryth (also known as Etheldreda). The earliest parts of the current structure were built in 1083, and it was elevated to cathedral status in 1109. Before the Reformation, the cathedral was dedicated to St.Etheldreda and St.Peter, but afterward, it was re-established as the Cathedral Church of the- Holy and Undivided Trinity. It serves as the cathedral for the Diocese of Ely, which encompasses much of Cambridgeshire, western Norfolk, Essex, and Bedfordshire, and it- is the seat of both the Bishop of Ely and the suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon. Architecturally, Ely Cathedral is notable for its grand scale and intricate design. Originally built in a Romanesque style, later additions, such as the galilee porch, lady chapel, and choir, were constructed in the ornate Decorated Gothic style. Its most distinctive feature is the central octagonal tower with a lantern above, creating a unique interior space, which along with the- West Tower, dominates the surrounding landscape. As a major tourist attraction, Ely Cathedral draws approximately 250,000 visitors annually and maintains a daily schedule of morning and evening services. Before the construction of Ely Cathedral, the first religious establishment in the area was Ely Abbey, founded in 673 during the Anglo-Saxon- period by Æthelthryth, daughter of King Anna of East Anglia. The original abbey was destroyed by Danish invaders in 870 but was re-established in 970 by King Edgar of England as part- of the English Benedictine Reform. The exact location of Æthelthryth’s original monastery remains uncertain. The land for the abbey came from her late husband, Tondberct, the “prince of the South Gyrwas,” as a morning gift. Ely Abbey was founded as a double monastery, housing both monks and nuns. Æthelthryth’s sister, Seaxburh, married King Eorcenberht of Kent and, after her husband’s death, acted as regent for her son, Ecgberht. Seaxburh eventually retired to Ely, where she succeeded Æthelthryth as abbess after her death in 679. The abbey community included both men and women, and it is believed that Æthelthryth’s successors were also of royal East Anglian lineage. The Viking raids likely led to the abbey’s destruction or the loss of its records, but there may have been continuity through- monks until its refoundation in 970 under the Rule of St.Benedict. The relics of Æthelthryth and the growing literature surrounding her life and miracles contributed significantly to the abbey’s success. The church of 970 was located near the nave of the present cathedral, and its demolition began in 1102 as the Norman church was constructed. Ermenilda of Ely, a lesser-known figure, also became abbess after the death of her husband, Wulfhere of Mercia, in 675. The cathedral is constructed from stone sourced from Barnack in Northamptonshire, which was purchased from Peterborough Abbey for 8,000 eels annually. Decorative elements are made from Purbeck Marble and local clunch. The building’s layout is cruciform (cross-shaped) with an additional transept at the western end. It has a total length of 164 meters (537 ft), with a nave stretching over 75 meters (246 ft), making it one of the longest in Britain. The west tower reaches a height of 66 meters (217 ft), while the distinctive Octagon ‘Lantern Tower’ is 23 meters (75 ft) wide and 52 meters (171 ft) tall. Inside, the lantern rises 43 meters (141 ft) from the floor to the central roof boss. The cathedral is often called “the ship of the Fens” due to its striking presence above the flat surrounding landscape. With a pre-Norman history of 400 years and re-foundation in 970, Ely had grown into one of England’s most prosperous Benedictine abbeys,- boasting a revered saint, treasures, a prestigious library, and renowned book production, with lands second only to Glastonbury. However, the arrival of Norman rule created significant challenges for Ely. Normans like Picot of Cambridge began seizing abbey lands, French monks took control of daughter monasteries like Eynesbury, and interference from the- Bishop of Lincoln threatened its status. Matters worsened in 1071 when Ely became a center of English resistance, led by figures such as Hereward the Wake, culminating in- the Siege of Ely, after which the abbey faced heavy fines. Like many major English religious sites, Ely had to rebuild to preserve its standing. This responsibility fell to Abbot Simeon, brother of Walkelin, the Bishop of Winchester. Appointed in 1082 at the age of 90, Simeon began construction in 1083. Despite his age and being a Norman, he supported the Ely monks, reversing the abbey’s decline and initiating the construction of a new grand building. The design, similar to Winchester’s, featured a cruciform plan with a central crossing tower, aisled transepts, a three-story elevation, and a semi-circular- apse at the east end. At the time, it was one of the largest buildings under construction north of the Alps. The first phase covered the church’s eastern section and the north and south transepts, but an interruption occurred after Simeon’s death in- 1093, likely due to an extended interregnum caused by Ranulf Flambard, who kept positions like the Abbot of Ely unfilled to seize their income. Construction resumed in 1100 with the appointment of Abbot Richard, who worked to secure Ely’s independence from the Diocese of Lincoln, achieving- this when Ely became a diocese in its own right in 1109. Richard’s successor, Hervey le Breton, became the first Bishop of Ely, marking a period of renewed connection with Ely’s Anglo-Saxon heritage. Although much of the Norman east end and central crossing has been lost, the surviving architecture of the transepts still offers a- glimpse of the original design, with massive walls featuring Romanesque arches forming aisles around the choir and transepts. Three tiers of archways rise from the aisles, with galleries for liturgical processions and a clerestory passage above. Construction on the nave began around 1115, and by 1140, the nave and western transepts were completed in the Romanesque style. After another pause, the new mason integrated earlier elements with the richer decorations of early Gothic. The unfinished west tower and upper sections of the two western transepts were completed under Bishop Geoffrey Ridel (1174–89), resulting in an- elaborate west front adorned with intersecting arches and intricate mouldings. These new architectural details were consistently applied to the upper levels of the tower and transepts, featuring rows of trefoil heads and- pointed arches instead of semicircular ones. This created a west front with a striking sense of order and uniformity. Originally, the west front included symmetrical transepts on either side of the tower. Stonework on the tower indicates that an octagonal structure was part of the initial design, although the current western octagonal tower was added in 1400. During various construction phases, several attempts were made to address subsidence issues caused by soft ground at the cathedral’s western end. In 1405–1407, to support the extra weight of the octagonal tower, four new arches were constructed at the west crossing. However, this additional weight may have worsened the problem, leading to the collapse of the north-west transept at the end of the 15th century. A large, sloping buttress was then built to support the remaining walls, which remain in their incomplete state on the north side of the tower. The Galilee Porch now serves as the main entrance for visitors to Ely Cathedral. While its original liturgical purpose remains uncertain, its position at the west end suggests it may have functioned as a chapel for- penitents, a gathering point for liturgical processions, or a meeting place for monks to conduct business with women, who were not allowed into the abbey. Structurally, it also helps support the west tower. The porch consists of two-storey walls, although the upper level no longer has a roof, which was removed in the early 19th century. The precise date of its construction is unclear. Records attribute its beginnings to Bishop Eustace (1197–1215), making it a significant example of Early English Gothic architecture. However, there are doubts about how early the porch was completed, especially since Eustace fled to France in 1208 and had no access to his funds for three years. Architect George Gilbert Scott suggested that elements of the porch’s decoration, such as the ‘syncopated arches’ and Purbeck marble shafts, resemble earlier- works like St Hugh’s Choir at Lincoln Cathedral and the west porch at St Albans, both predating Eustace. Additionally, the foliage carvings and other details suggest it may have been completed or reworked after 1220, possibly by Bishop Hugh of Northwold. The first significant alteration to the Norman structure of Ely Cathedral was initiated by Bishop Hugh of Northwold (1229–54). Originally, the eastern arm of the cathedral consisted of just four bays, extending from the choir (then located at the crossing) to- the high altar and the shrine of St.Etheldreda. In 1234, Northwold began an eastward extension, adding six new bays over a span of 17 years. These additions were constructed in a richly decorated Early English Gothic style, featuring extensive use of Purbeck marble pillars and intricate foliage- carvings, while maintaining the same bay dimensions, wall thicknesses, and elevations as the Norman nave. This new section was regarded as “the most refined and richly decorated English building of its period.”. St.Etheldreda’s remains were moved to a new shrine located just east of the high altar within the new structure. Upon completion in 1252, the cathedral was reconsecrated in the presence of King Henry III and Prince Edward. The expanded presbytery not only provided a larger space but also increased the prominence of St.Etheldreda’s shrine. Surviving fragments of the shrine pedestal suggest a decorative style similar to that of the Galilee Porch’s interior. Additionally, the relics of St.Etheldreda’s sisters, Wihtburh and Seaxburh, as well as those of her niece, Ermenilda, were likely housed in the new extension. The enlargement allowed more space for pilgrims to visit the shrines through a door in the North Transept. Over time, the presbytery has also been used for the burial and commemoration of more than 100 individuals associated with the abbey and cathedral. The central octagonal tower, with its vast open interior, pinnacles, and lantern, is the cathedral’s most distinctive and celebrated feature. Described by Pevsner as Ely’s “greatest individual achievement of architectural genius,” this design arose out of a catastrophe. During the night of 12–13 February 1322, likely due to excavation work for the Lady Chapel, the Norman central crossing tower collapsed. Work on the Lady Chapel was halted, and attention shifted to address the collapse. Rather than rebuilding the tower on its original footprint, the crossing was expanded into an octagonal shape, removing all four original tower- piers and incorporating parts of the nave, chancel, and transepts, creating a much larger open space. Alan of Walsingham oversaw this innovative construction, although the full extent of his influence on the design remains debated, as does the- rationale for this radical redesign. One possibility is that concerns about the soft ground beneath the original tower piers led to moving the new structure’s weight outward. The large stone octagonal tower features eight internal arches leading up to timber vaulting, which creates the illusion that the glazed timber- lantern is supported by delicate struts. In reality, the roof and lantern are held up by a complex timber framework that couldn’t be replicated today due to a- lack of suitably large trees. The central lantern, also octagonal but angled differently from the Octagon, contains panels with images of musical angels. These panels can be opened to allow real choristers to sing from the Octagon’s roof space. The lantern’s roof is also wooden, with a central carved boss depicting Christ in Majesty. The intricate timberwork was crafted by William Hurley, a master carpenter in the royal service. The extent of the damage caused to the Norman chancel by the tower’s collapse is unclear, but the three remaining bays were- rebuilt during Bishop John Hotham’s tenure (1316–1337) in an ornate Decorated Gothic style with flowing tracery. Structural evidence suggests this was a remodeling rather than a full reconstruction. New choir stalls with carved misericords were installed under the Octagon in the same position as the previous ones. Work also resumed on the Lady Chapel, and the two western bays of Northwold’s presbytery were modified by unroofing the triforia to- increase the light around Etheldreda’s shrine. Around the same time, the remaining lancet windows in the presbytery aisles were gradually replaced with broad windows featuring flowing tracery. Extensive work also occurred on the monastic buildings, including the construction of Prior Crauden’s elegant chapel. In 1321, under the supervision of sacrist Alan of Walsingham, construction began on a large, free-standing Lady Chapel, connected to the north- aisle of the chancel by a covered walkway. The chapel measures 100 feet (30 m) in length and 46 feet (14 m) in width and was built in a richly- decorative ‘Decorated’ Gothic style over the next 30 years. Progress on the chapel slowed after 1322, as masons and resources were diverted to address issues in the main church. The north and south walls of the chapel each feature five bays, with large traceried windows between pillars, which originally held statues- in their eight niches and canopies. Below the windows, on three sides of the chapel, runs an arcade of ornately decorated ‘nodding ogees,’ supported by Purbeck marble pillars,- creating recessed seating areas. Each bay contains three arches, with larger arches for the main pillars. These arches are topped with carved spandrels depicting 93 relief sculptures of the life and miracles of the Virgin Mary. All of the carvings and sculptures were originally painted, and the stained glass windows would have featured vivid biblical scenes, though only- small fragments of these have survived. During the Reformation, Bishop Thomas Goodrich ordered the removal of religious images, and the chapel’s statues were destroyed. The relief scenes were too deeply embedded in the walls to be removed entirely, so the faces and figures were meticulously defaced,- leaving much of the detailed carving intact, though the original scenes are now hard to identify. After the Reformation, the Lady Chapel became the town’s parish church, Holy Trinity, a role it served until 1938. In 2000, a life-size statue of the Virgin Mary by David Wynne was installed above the Lady Chapel altar. The statue faced criticism from local residents, and the cathedral dean received numerous letters of complaint regarding its addition. In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, elaborate chantry chapels were added to the easternmost bays of the presbytery aisles—Bishop John- Alcock’s on the north side (1486–1500) and Bishop Nicholas West’s on the south (1515–1533). John Alcock, born around 1430 to a Hull merchant, rose to high office in both the church and state. Among his many roles, he was entrusted with the care of Edward IV’s sons, later known as the Princes in the Tower. Alcock’s faithful service to Edward IV, his sons, and Henry VII adds to the mystery surrounding the princes’ fate. He was appointed Bishop of Rochester and Worcester by Edward IV and became ‘Lord President of Wales’ in 1476. After Henry VII’s victory over Richard III in 1485, Alcock briefly served as Lord Chancellor before becoming Bishop of Ely in 1486. With his resources, Alcock founded Jesus College, Cambridge, and constructed his own elaborate chantry chapel in Ely. The chapel is filled with statue niches and architectural canopies, some so crammed together that the statues were never finished. Others, although completed, were spared from destruction during the Reformation. The chapel is so tightly packed into its space that some believe the original design may have been intended for a larger bay, possibly at Worcester. Alcock was buried in his chapel after his death in 1500. Nicholas West, educated at Cambridge, Oxford, and Bologna, was a diplomat for Henry VII and Henry VIII before becoming Bishop of Ely in 1515. For the next 19 years, West lived with greater grandeur than any other prelate of his time, maintaining over a hundred servants. He built an impressive chantry chapel at the southeast corner of the presbytery, featuring niches for statues (later destroyed during the Reformation)- and a fan-traceried ceiling. His tomb is located on the south side of the chapel. In 1771, the chapel became the resting place for the bones of seven Saxon benefactors of the church. These bones had been moved from the old Saxon Abbey into the Norman cathedral and were later found when the choir stalls were relocated. They were reburied in West’s chapel, including figures such as Wulfstan (died 1023), Osmund of Sweden, Athelstan of Elmham, and Byrhtnoth, eorldorman of Essex. The chapel also houses the tomb memorial for Bishop Bowyer Sparke, who died in 1836. On 18 November 1539, royal commissioners seized possession of the monastery and all its assets. For nearly two years, the fate of the monastery remained uncertain as Henry VIII and his advisors debated the role cathedrals might play in the new Protestant Church. On 10 September 1541, a new charter was granted to Ely, appointing Robert Steward, the last prior, as the first dean. He, along with eight prebendaries, formed the new governing body of the cathedral, the dean and chapter. Under Bishop Thomas Goodrich, the shrines of Anglo-Saxon saints were destroyed, and as the wave of iconoclasm intensified, nearly all the cathedral’s- stained glass and sculptures were defaced or destroyed in the 1540s. In the Lady Chapel, free-standing statues were demolished, and all 147 carved figures in the frieze of St Mary were decapitated, as were the sculptures on West’s chapel. The cathedral was ultimately preserved due to its three valuable functions: promoting true worship, supporting education, and caring for the poor. To continue these roles, vicars choral, lay clerks, and boy choristers—many former members of the monastic community—were appointed to assist in worship. A grammar school for 24 scholars was established, and during the 1550s, funds from the sale of plate and vestments were used to buy books and create a library. A passageway to the Lady Chapel was converted into an almshouse for six bedemen, and in 1566, the Lady Chapel itself became the town’s Holy Trinity Parish Church. Many of the monastic buildings became residences for the new cathedral hierarchy, although some were demolished. The cathedral’s east end largely served as a place for burials and memorials. The cathedral sustained damage during the Dover Straits earthquake on 6 April 1580 when stones fell from the vaulting. Although the sixteenth century was difficult, the Commonwealth period came closest to destroying the cathedral and its institution. In the 1640s, with Oliver Cromwell’s army occupying the Isle of Ely, a Puritan regime of worship was imposed. Bishop Matthew Wren was arrested in 1642 and spent the next 18 years in the Tower of London. Significant destruction of images during the Civil War and Commonwealth was avoided, likely because most had already been destroyed a century earlier. In 1648, parliament even proposed demolishing the cathedral to sell its materials to support sick and maimed soldiers and their families. However, the building was spared, suffering only neglect, possibly due to Cromwell’s protection or perhaps because of indifference rather than hostility toward the structure. After the restoration of Charles II, efforts began to re-establish the Church of England, with Matthew Wren appointing a new cathedral chapter. The primary challenges included repairing neglected buildings, restoring Cathedral services, and recovering its lands and rights—a process that took over 20 years. In the 1690s, baroque furnishings, including a marble font and organ case, were introduced. In 1699, the northwest corner of the north transept collapsed and was rebuilt by Robert Grumbold, possibly consulting Christopher Wren. The restoration faithfully restored the Romanesque structure and set a precedent in restoration history. In the 18th century, two key figures in Ely Cathedral’s history were minor canon James Bentham and architect James Essex. Bentham’s historical studies of the cathedral, published in 1771, were complemented by Essex’s architectural expertise. Together, they identified the deterioration of the octagon lantern as a priority, leading to significant repairs beginning in 1757. Their work also included re-roofing the eastern arm and relocating the 14th-century choir stalls to the far east end in 1769, creating an open space under the octagon. Despite some careless dismantling of medieval structures, the restoration was generally sympathetic for the period. In the 1840s, a major restoration of Ely Cathedral began under the leadership of Dean George Peacock (1839–58) and Cambridge Professor Robert Willis. Their work started with restoring the south-west transept, which had been used as a workshop, by removing modern additions and reinstating the Norman windows and arcading. This approach set the tone for Victorian-era renovations. During the restoration, architect George Basevi tragically died in 1845 after falling from the west tower. Key projects included removing limewash, polishing marble pillars, painting roof bosses, and reworking the West tower by removing a plaster vault and- reinforcing it with iron supports. By 1847, architect George Gilbert Scott, a proponent of the Gothic Revival, joined the restoration of Ely Cathedral alongside Dean Peacock and Professor Robert Willis. Scott’s first task was relocating the 14th-century choir stalls closer to the Octagon while maintaining the open space. His contributions included designing a new carved wooden screen, brass gates, moving the high altar, and installing a lavish alabaster reredos. He also oversaw the addition of a new font, organ case, and pulpit. In 1876, Scott’s designs for the octagon lantern parapet and pinnacles were implemented, restoring them to their original form. In 1845, Edward Sparke, son of Bishop Bowyer Sparke, led a significant campaign to re-glaze Ely Cathedral with coloured glass, as little- medieval or post-Reformation glass remained. Sparke sourced funds from various donors, and a range of designers and manufacturers contributed, including William Wailes, who completed major windows like- those at the east end and in the octagon. The nave ceiling was also painted with biblical scenes by Henry Styleman Le Strange and later Thomas Gambier Parry. Between 1986 and 2000, further structural restoration occurred under Deans William Patterson and Michael Higgins. In 2000, a Processional Way was built, reconnecting the north choir aisle and the Lady Chapel. In 1972, the Stained Glass Museum was founded, displaying rescued windows from closed churches. It opened to the public in 1979 and expanded in 2000, featuring pieces from Britain, abroad, and notable collections. Ely has been a key center of Christian worship since the 7th century. Information about its early history before the Norman Conquest largely comes from Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica and the Liber Eliensis, a 12th-century chronicle- based on Bede. These sources describe the founding of Ely’s first Christian community by Æthelthryth (Etheldreda), the daughter of King Anna of East Anglia, in 673. She established and led a dual monastery for both men and women after acquiring land at Ely, possibly through her first marriage. After her death, a shrine was built in her honor, though the monastery was destroyed around 870 during Danish invasions. However, it is likely a church remained until the monastery’s refoundation in the 10th century. In 970, under Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Aethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, Ely Abbey was restored as a Benedictine monastery, becoming one- of the leading monastic houses in Anglo-Saxon England. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the abbey supported local resistance to Norman rule. In 1109, Ely became a cathedral with Hervey le Breton as bishop, dividing the monastic property between the bishopric and the monastery. Ely Cathedral Priory joined the Canterbury Province of the English Benedictine Congregation, remaining so until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. The cathedral was re-established by royal charter in 1541, with former monks transitioning into prebendaries and minor canons. Despite a brief abolition during the Commonwealth (1649–1660), the cathedral’s foundation has continued, evolving over time with lay canons added under a Church Measure in 1999. Ely’s worship still follows the Opus Dei tradition, with services deeply rooted in the Benedictine heritage. After the Dissolution, the veneration of St. Etheldreda was suppressed, and her shrine destroyed. The cathedral’s dedication to her and St. Peter was changed to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. However, since 1873, the practice of honoring Etheldreda has been revived, with annual festivals celebrating her life and the movement of her remains to new shrines over the centuries. In front of us is St. Mary’s Church. Primarily built in the 13th century, the church was designated as a Grade I listed building in 1950. Adjacent to the churchyard was the Sextry Barn, a large tithe barn from the 13th century, which was demolished in 1842. In front of us is Oliver Cromwell’s House served as the family home of Oliver Cromwell. The kitchen dates back to around 1215, with other sections constructed later. Until 1986, the house functioned as the vicarage for St. Mary’s Church, located next door. In 1988, the City of Ely Council purchased the property, which opened as a tourist attraction in 1990. It has since been refurbished to reflect its appearance during Cromwell’s lifetime.This house is the only remaining residence of the former Lord- Protector aside from Hampton Court. After a recent renovation, the house now features a completely updated Civil War exhibition with interactive displays and interpretations. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 – 3 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician, and soldier, considered one of the most significant figures in British history. He rose to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, first as a senior commander in the Parliamentarian army and later as a politician. A key proponent of the execution of Charles I in January 1649, which led to the creation of the Commonwealth of England,- he served as Lord Protector from December 1653 until his death in September 1658. Although elected as MP for Huntingdon in 1628, much of Cromwell’s life before 1640 was marked by failure. He briefly considered emigrating to New England but became a religious Independent in the 1630s, believing that his achievements were due to divine providence. In 1640, he was elected as MP for Cambridge in both the Short and Long Parliaments. When the First English Civil War began in August 1642, he joined the Parliamentarian army and quickly showcased his military skills. In 1645, he was appointed commander of the New Model Army cavalry under Sir Thomas Fairfax and played a crucial role in securing victory in the English Civil War. Following the death of Charles I and the exile of his son, along with military successes in Ireland and Scotland, Cromwell solidified- the Commonwealth and his dominance over the new regime. In December 1653, he was named Lord Protector, a role he held until his death in September 1658, after which his son Richard succeeded him. Richard’s lack of strength led to a power vacuum that ultimately resulted in the 1660 Stuart Restoration. After his death, Cromwell’s body was removed from Westminster Abbey and displayed at Tyburn, while his head was mounted on a spike- outside the Tower of London for 30 years, eventually being reburied at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1960. Winston Churchill referred to Cromwell as a military dictator, while others regard him as a champion of liberty. His legacy is contentious, especially due to his use of military force to gain and maintain political power, his role in the- execution of Charles I, and the harshness of his 1649 campaign in Ireland. The debate surrounding his historical reputation persists. Although his statue outside the Houses of Parliament was first proposed in 1856, it was not erected until 1895, with most of- the funding provided privately by Prime Minister Lord Rosebery. Ely’s history can be traced back to prehistoric times. The Roswell Pits, located about one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the city, are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due- to their palaeontological significance. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Jurassic Kimmeridge Clays were quarried there for pottery production and riverbank maintenance. During the quarrying, numerous fossils of ammonites, belemnites, and bivalves were discovered, along with an almost complete pliosaur specimen. Evidence of human activity in Ely dates back to the Late Mesolithic to Bronze Age periods, with finds such as Neolithic flint- tools, a Bronze Age axe, and a spearhead. There is more substantial evidence of Iron Age and Roman presence, including traces of seasonal occupation. For example, a possible late Iron Age to early Roman farmstead was uncovered on West Fen Road, and Roman pottery fragments were- found near the east end of Ely Cathedral in The Paddock. Additionally, a Roman settlement, including a tile kiln built over an earlier Iron Age site, was located in Little Thetford, about three miles (5 km) to the south. The origin and meaning of Ely’s name have long been debated by place-name scholars and remain uncertain. The earliest mention of the name is found in Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, where he referred to it as Elge. This is not a Latin word, and later Latin texts used variations like Elia, Eli, or Heli with an added “H.”. In Old English documents and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the name usually appears as Elig. Linguist Skeat suggested that Ely’s name comes from an Old Northumbrian term, ēlġē, meaning “district of eels.”. He proposed that this term was based on the hypothetical word ġē, which is not directly recorded but may be linked to the modern German word Gau, meaning “district.”. According to this theory, the name evolved into ēliġē and was later reinterpreted as meaning “Eel Island.”. This explanation has been supported by scholars like Reaney, Ekwall, Mills, and Watts. However, challenges remain with this interpretation. Bailey noted that if Ely’s name truly derived from ēlġē (eel district), it would be unusual, as it is far from other places with possible ġē names. Furthermore, there are no examples of fish names being used in combination with ġē. Additionally, the consistent spelling of Elig in Old English, even in grammatical cases where Elige would be expected if the second element- were īġ (island), conflicts with the pattern of other nearby island names. Historian Mac Dowdy raised further doubts, noting that the word “eel” did not exist at the time Ely was founded, with the- creatures being referred to as aguilla or anguilles until the 1300s. Dowdy suggested that Ely may instead derive its name from the word “Elysium,” which was later shortened to Ely. He based this on a description by Etheldreda’s chamberlain, Ovin, who called Ely “an ancient place of great spiritual importance,” likening it to a paradise. Wilfrid’s chronicler also used the Latin word for paradise, Elysium, to describe the area. Another theory, discussed by Miller in Fenland Notes and Queries, suggests the name may be of Celtic origin, potentially from the Brythonic- word helig (modern Welsh helyg), meaning willows, or heli, meaning saltwater. Miller found it curious that a place rich in willows might be named “a willow” in the singular. Ely’s origins date back to the founding of an abbey in 673 AD, about one mile (1.6 km) north of the village- of Cratendune, on the Isle of Ely. The abbey was established under the protection of Saint Etheldreda, daughter of King Anna. Etheldreda, who was a queen and later became the abbess of Ely, founded the monastery on the site where Ely Cathedral now- stands. This first abbey was destroyed by Danish invaders in 870 but was rededicated to Etheldreda in 970 by Ethelwold, the Bishop of- Winchester. By the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Ely’s abbots had accumulated so much wealth that it was the “second richest- monastery in England.” The first Norman bishop, Simeon, began constructing the cathedral in 1083, and between 1322 and 1328, sacrist Alan of Walsingham rebuilt the cathedral’s octagon after the original nave crossing collapsed. Ely’s octagon is regarded as “one of the wonders of the medieval world.” Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described it as the “greatest- individual achievement of architectural genius” at Ely Cathedral, which earned the cathedral its nickname, “The Ship of the Fens.” Construction continued until the abbey’s dissolution in 1539 during the Reformation, and the cathedral was restored between 1845 and 1870 by architect George Gilbert Scott. Ely was long considered a city and was formally granted city status by royal charter in 1974. Cherry Hill, the site of Ely Castle, is a Norman construction and a scheduled monument in the UK. The castle, which resembles Cambridge Castle, has a motte-and-bailey structure with a 250-foot (76 m) diameter and a 40-foot (12 m) high citadel. It is believed to have been built around 1070 as a royal defense by William the Conqueror following the submission of the- Isle by rebels like Earl Morcar and Hereward the Wake. Ely had been a trading center before Henry III officially granted a market to the Bishop of Ely on 9 April 1224. Today, weekly markets are held on Thursdays and Saturdays, with seasonal markets on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter to November. After Mary I of England ascended the throne in 1553, the papacy began making its first successful efforts to implement Catholic reforms- in England, initiated by Pope Paul III. This period, known as the Marian Persecutions, saw two men from Wisbech—constable William Wolsey and painter Robert Pygot—accused of heresy for rejecting- the belief that Christ’s body and blood were present in the bread and wine of the mass. On 9 October 1555, they were condemned by John Fuller, the bishop’s chancellor, and on 16 October 1555, they were burned at- the stake, likely on the Palace Green in front of Ely Cathedral. According to The Book of Ely (1990) by Blakeman, permission for a memorial to the martyrs on Palace Green was not granted. In 2011, however, a plaque commemorating the martyrdom was placed on the northeast corner of Palace Green by the City of Ely Perspective. The plaque is located just two inches from the pavement, making it easy to overlook. Oliver Cromwell resided in Ely from 1636 to 1646 after inheriting St Mary’s vicarage—a sixteenth-century property now known as Oliver Cromwell’s House—from- his uncle, Sir Thomas Steward. The house is open for visits today. During this period, Cromwell served as a tax collector and was also one of the governors of Thomas Parsons’ Charity, which dates- back to 1445 and received a Royal Charter from Charles I of England. This charity continues to provide grants and housing to worthy local applicants. In 1687, there was an early form of a workhouse, possibly at St Mary’s, which may have been part of an agreement- between the Ely community and Nicholas Wythers of Norwich in 1675. Wythers was paid £30 per year to employ the poor in “spinning jersey,” compensating them with money instead of goods. A purpose-built workhouse was established in 1725 for 35 inmates on what is now St Mary’s Court. Four additional workhouses existed, including Holy Trinity on Fore Hill, which accommodated 80 inmates from 1738 to 1956, and the Ely Union- workhouse, built in 1837, which housed up to 300 inmates. The latter was transformed into Tower Hospital in 1948 and is now a residential building called Tower Court. Two other former workhouses included Haven Quayside for unmarried mothers and another located where the Hereward Hall now stands on Silver Street. he diaries of writers and journalists like William Camden, Celia Fiennes, Daniel Defoe, John Byng, and William Cobbett depict the decline of- Ely following the 14th-century plague and the 16th-century Reformation, which resulted in the monastery’s dissolution in 1539. In his 1607 edition of Britannia, Camden notes that “Ely itself is neither a large city nor particularly beautiful, suffering from an- unhealthy atmosphere due to the surrounding fens.” In 1698, Celia Fiennes remarked that Bishop Simon Patrick avoided staying long in Ely for health reasons, lamenting that the town had lost its charter and criticizing the local conditions: “They are a lazy people, focused only on tending their land and livestock, which offers them little advantage.”. Daniel Defoe, writing in A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain (1722), described Ely’s cathedral, stating that it is visible- from afar but appears ancient and fragile: “It looks so dilapidated that when it eventually falls, it will only be surprising that it didn’t collapse a hundred years earlier.”. Prison reformer John Howard visited Ely and criticized the conditions in the gaol, which was owned by the bishop, the lord of the Isle of Ely. He noted that the prison was partly rebuilt by a previous bishop due to complaints about the inhumane treatment of prisoners, who were often chained to the floor. Howard observed that debtors outnumbered felons in the gaol. On July 5, 1790, John Byng visited Ely while touring the Midlands and described the town as “extremely mean” and indicative of a decay in local dependence. In Rural Rides (1830), William Cobbett characterized Ely as a “miserable little town”—pretty but impoverished and declining, especially under clerical leadership. The Ely and Littleport riots took place from May 22 to 24, 1816. During the Special Commission assizes held in Ely from June 17 to 22, twenty-four rioters were condemned. Nineteen received various commuted sentences, while five were executed on June 28, 1816. Ely was also isolated during a cholera outbreak in 1832. Ely Cathedral was the first major cathedral to undergo a comprehensive restoration. Work began in 1845 and continued for nearly thirty years, with most of the efforts being carried out in a sympathetic manner- by architect George Gilbert Scott. In 1870, the only pavement labyrinth found in an English cathedral was installed beneath the west tower. For over 800 years, the cathedral and its related structures—built on a rise 68 feet (21 m) above the surrounding fens—have significantly- influenced the visual landscape of the city and its vicinity. Geographer John Jones noted in 1924 that “on a clear day, Ely Cathedral can be seen on the horizon from the roof- of King’s Chapel in Cambridge, 16 miles (26 km) away, illustrating the flatness of the fens.” Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner observed in 1954 that “as one approaches Ely on foot, by bicycle, or perhaps in an open car, the cathedral dominates the view for miles, presenting a silhouette unlike any other English cathedral.” Local historian Pamela Blakeman mentions a claim that “surrounding the cathedral is the largest collection of medieval buildings still in daily use in the country.” The abbey in Ely was among several that were reestablished during the Benedictine reforms initiated by King Edgar the Peaceful (943–975). The “special and peculiarly ancient” privileges and freedoms granted to Ely by charter at that time may have originally been intended to- provide only financial benefits, but they have since been interpreted as conferring authority and power akin to that of a ruler to subsequent bishops. These rights were reaffirmed in charters issued by Edward the Confessor and in William the Conqueror’s confirmation of old English liberties at Kenford. The Isle of Ely was referred to in some statutes as a county palatine, which helped explain the bishop’s royal privileges and- judicial authority—normally reserved for the sovereign. However, legal figures like Sir Edward Coke did not fully endorse this interpretation. The bishop’s rights were not entirely abolished until 1837. Ely has long been regarded as a city due to its status as the seat of a diocese, which it holds by ancient prescriptive right. For instance, John Speed’s 1610 map refers to it as “this Citie of Ely,” and Aikin similarly describes it as a city in 1800. When Queen Victoria established a Local Board of Health for Ely in 1850, the accompanying order referred to it as the “city of Ely.” The local board that governed from 1850 to 1894 named itself the “City of Ely Local Board,” and the urban district council that followed from 1894 to 1974 also used the title “City of Ely Urban District Council.”. However, Ely’s city status was not formally confirmed until April 1, 1974, when Queen Elizabeth II issued letters patent to its civil parish. With a population of 20,256 recorded in 2011, Ely is considered one of the smallest cities in England, although its population has grown significantly from 11,291 in 1991. While its urban area ranks it among the smallest cities at 1.84 square miles (4.77 km²), its city council area spans a- much larger 22.86 square miles (59.21 km²), exceeding many other cities. The city was managed by a local board from 1850 until 1894, when it transitioned to the City of Ely Urban District Council, which operated until 1974. The Isle of Ely County Council governed the surrounding administrative county from 1889 to 1965. Ely was designated as a local board district on July 15, 1850, encompassing the parishes of Ely Holy Trinity and Ely St- Mary, as well as the unincorporated area known as Ely College, which surrounded the cathedral. The order that established the local board referred to the district as the “city of Ely,” and the governing body adopted thecname “City of Ely Local Board.” The district also included a detached area in the Fens, approximately 5 miles (8 km) west of the city, called Witcham Gravel. The local board held its first meeting on October 11, 1850, at the Shire Hall on Lynn Road, a building primarily used as a courthouse. George Peacock, the dean of Ely Cathedral, became the first chairman. The Ely Local Board District was part of the Isle of Ely, a liberty within Cambridgeshire that had its own quarter sessions- and became a separate administrative county in 1889 when county councils were established. The new county council chose to base itself in March, in contrast to the previous quarter sessions that met alternately at Wisbech and Shire Hall in Ely. Under the Local Government Act of 1894, local board districts were designated as urban districts on December 31, 1894. The Ely Urban District Council held its inaugural meeting on January 8, 1895, with Charles Bidwell as the first chairman. Bidwell, who had been the chairman of the previous local board since 1888, managed the firm of Bidwells. The urban district council continued to convene at Shire Hall, as the local board had done, and referred to itself as the “City of Ely Urban District Council.”. In 1912, the council constructed a fire station at 6 Lynn Road, directly south of Shire Hall. The urban district’s parishes were simplified in 1933, with Witcham Gravel transferred to the parish of Witcham and the parishes of Holy- Trinity and St Mary merging to form a single parish called Ely Holy Trinity and St Mary. During World War II, the management of fire brigades shifted from district councils to the National Fire Service, leading to the construction- of a new fire station on Egremont Street. After the war, the council repurposed the old fire station at 6 Lynn Road for its offices and meetings. In 1965, the Isle of Ely and Cambridgeshire merged to create a single administrative county called Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely, which- became the authority governing Ely Urban District. Ely Urban District was dissolved under the Local Government Act of 1972, and on April 1, 1974, it became part of the new district of East Cambridgeshire. The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely County Council merged with the Huntingdon and Peterborough County Council to form the Cambridgeshire County Council. A successor parish was established for the former Ely Urban District, and city status was granted to this new parish on April- 1, 1974, enabling its council to identify as the City of Ely Council. The new East Cambridgeshire District Council initially used the former urban district council’s offices at 6 Lynn Road for some of its- departments, but that building has since been demolished. The district council has consolidated its offices at The Grange on Nutholt Lane. The City of Ely Council operated from the Old Gaol at 4 Lynn Road until the mid-1990s and then moved to 72 Market Street. In 2013, it acquired the Sessions House (formerly known as Shire Hall), which had ceased functioning as a magistrates’ court in 2011. Consequently, the city council is now situated in the building where its predecessors, the local board and urban district council, met from 1850 until the 1940s. Currently, Ely is governed by three tiers of local government: the City of Ely Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, and Cambridgeshire County Council. Regular elections are held for the City of Ely Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, and Cambridgeshire County Council. The civil parish is divided into four wards: Ely North, Ely South, Ely East, and Ely West, from which fourteen councillors are elected to the parish council. The East Cambridgeshire District Council is also located in Ely. For district council elections, Ely South, Ely East, and Ely West each elect two district councillors, while Ely North elects three. In elections for the Cambridgeshire County Council, the city elects two councillors. As an island surrounded by marshes and lakes, eel fishing was crucial for both food and income for the abbot and his nearby tenants. For instance, in 1086, the abbot of Ely valued Stuntenei at 24,000 eels, Litelport at 17,000 eels, and even the small village of Liteltetford at 3,250 eels. Before the extensive and largely successful drainage of the fens in the seventeenth century, Ely served as a trade center for goods- crafted from willow, reeds, and rushes, and wildfowling was a prominent local activity. Peat, referred to as “turf,” was used as fuel, while “moor” peat served as a building material. Local Ampthill Clay was extracted for maintaining riverbanks, and Kimmeridge Clay from Roswell Pits was utilized for pottery production. From a geological standpoint, the district has historically been predominantly agricultural, with gravel currently being the only mineral extracted for aggregate. In the past, small-scale operations also worked with chalk, brick clay, phosphate, sand, gravel, and peat. Between 1850 and 1890, phosphate nodules, locally known as coprolites, were extracted around Ely for agricultural fertilizer, providing significant employment opportunities for- the local workforce. In 1925, one of the largest sugar beet factories in England opened in Queen Adelaide, about two miles from the center of- Ely, although it closed in 1981; sugar beet farming continues in the area. Pottery production in Ely spanned from the 12th century until 1860, with records indicating around 80 potters. Pottery from one specific area of Ely was known as “Babylon ware,” likely named after potters who were isolated from the town- center due to the rerouting of the River Great Ouse around 1200. By the seventeenth century, this area had come to be referred to as Babylon, a name that appeared on maps by 1850. The construction of the Ely to King’s Lynn railway in 1847 further isolated the area, leaving residents reliant on boats to access Ely. Annual fairs have taken place in Ely since the twelfth century. The seven-day fair in honor of Saint Audrey (Etheldreda), occurring around June 23, was officially granted by Henry I to the abbot and convent on October 10, 1189. This fair featured inexpensive necklaces made from brightly colored silk, known as “tawdry lace.” The term “tawdry,” derived from “Saint Audrey,” has- come to mean cheap and flashy adornments. Additionally, there were two other fairs: the 15-day festival of St. Lambert, first granted in 1312, and a 22-day fair starting on the Vigil of the Ascension, first granted in 1318. By the eighteenth century, the festival of St. Lambert had ceased, but the markets for St. Etheldreda and the Vigil of the Ascension still take place today, albeit with fewer days and changed dates. Currently, Ely hosts several annual events, including Aquafest, organized by the Rotary Club at the riverside on the first Sunday of July since 1978. Other events include the Eel Day carnival procession and the annual fireworks display in Ely Park, which began in 1974. The Ely Folk Festival has been celebrated in the city since 1985, while the Ely Horticultural Society has been organizing the Great Autumn Show since 1927. In 2018, Ely hosted a ‘Pride’ festival to celebrate LGBT and diversity, featuring performances by ‘For The Hornets’ and the cathedral displayingthe pride rainbow flag.

Welcome to a stunning 4K HDR walking tour of Ely, one of England’s most beautiful and historic cathedral cities.

Join me on this relaxing journey as we explore the charming streets dominated by the awe-inspiring Ely Cathedral, famously known as the “Ship of the Fens.” We’ll wander through the medieval gateways, past Oliver Cromwell’s House, and along the peaceful riverside of the Great Ouse. This virtual walk is perfect for anyone who loves history, magnificent architecture, or simply needs a peaceful escape to the English countryside.

✨ **What you’ll experience on this walk:**
* An uninterrupted tour in breathtaking 4K HDR quality.
* Close-up views of the magnificent Ely Cathedral.
* The natural, ambient sounds of this quiet city for a relaxing ASMR experience.
* A sense of peace and historical wonder.

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This route has a total distance of 5 km (3.11 miles).
🗺️ The map route of this walk can be found here 👉 https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=16pzFhq0hdIgioik2ZV_gq9a0uPHUlJc&usp=sharing
📍 Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK
📜 Learn about Ely’s history and the significance of each attraction by turning on Close Caption [CC]

Timeline of the Ely England Walking Tour:
0:00:00 – Intro/Preview
0:01:19 – Start of the walk
0:01:25 – Ely Riverside, Ely Cambridgeshire England
0:03:30 – Terrace Garden
0:07:25 – Cherry Hill Park
0:14:30 – Around Ely Cathedral, Ely Cathedral Tour
0:23:15 – Inside Ely Cathedral, Ely Cathedral Walking Tour
0:49:15 – Church Lane
0:55:30 – Silver Lane
0:57:40 – The Gallery
1:02:55 – Ely High Street, the City of Ely
1:07:20 – Fore Hill
1:11:25 – Ely Market Square
1:12:00 – Market Street
1:13:18 – High Street Passage
1:15:35 – Market Street
1:17:55 – Lynn Road
1:21:30 – St Mary Street
1:23:18 – Green Lane
1:24:50 – The Gallery
1:28:20 – Cherry Hill Park

#Ely #ElyCathedral #WalkingTour #Cambridgeshire #England #4KWalk #CathedralCity #SlowTV

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🇹🇭 4K HDR | Thailand Walking Tours Playlist 👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJG0e2BqZG8JwJKf9NbG3NQWWPwuyZr-x

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