BRITS BITS: Exploring Ely

  • Published
  • By Gina Randall
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
The city of Ely lies right on the doorstep of both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. Steeped in history, it takes its name from 'Elge' meaning eel-district.

When the fens were drained in the 17th century, the land of East Anglia took on a very different look from the lowland marshes that had dominated the landscape. Landowners had wished to make the land more productive, and the Earl of Bedford and the Dutch engineer Sir Cornelius Vermuyden began work draining the fens. King Charles I backed the project and, after the execution of the king, Oliver Cromwell gave his full support to Vermuyden. Workers used dykes, ditches, sluices and wind engines to drain the water.

Today, the drainage ditches are still a common scene in the area. While many see them as a potential driving hazard, without the ditches the land Ely, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath stand on would literally be on the sea bed.

There is much to see and do in Ely; below are some family friendly suggestions.

1. Ely Cathedral. The founder was St. Etheldreda during the Saxon times. She was the daughter of the king of East Anglia and restored the church of Ely and built her monastery on the site of Ely Cathedral. After 200 years the Danes destroyed it, but then it became a Benedictine community in 970 A.D. Thousands of visitors come from all over the world every year to enjoy the cathedral.

For more information, visit www.elycathedral.org/

2. Boat hire. Passing through the city is the Great River Ouse. Originating in central England, it flows into East Anglia before it enters the Wash on the north Norfolk coast. One of the best ways to see the city and its surroundings is to hire a boat and enjoy the freedom of the open waterways. A more leisurely way to explore the river is to relax with a boat trip in a chauffeur-driven boat.

For more information, visit www.visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/riverside/marinas

3. Oliver Cromwell's House. Cromwell lived in the city for 10 years and was Lord Protector of England. He was born in Huntington in 1599, died in 1658, and was a key figure in the troubled times of British history. The house shows how his family would have lived in the 17th century.

For more information, visit www.visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/cromwell/oliver-cromwells-house

4. Ely Museum. The museum is located in the Bishop's Gaol in the centre of the city and takes visitors on a journey from prehistory to the 20th century. The building dates back to the 13th century, and the museum was set up in 1972. It offers many displays, including fossils, that visitors are permitted to touch, as well as Roman remains and original prison cells.

For more information, visit www.elymuseum.org.uk/

5. Ely Eel Trail. Ely is proud of its connection with eels. It's thought the name Ely comes from the Isle of Eels when the city was surrounded by marshland and water. This trail begins at Oliver Cromwell's house, then moves on to the Waterside and the Babylon Gallery, continuing on to the Maltings, Jubliee Gardens and then Cherry Hill Park. It's marked by 70 markers set in the ground with pictures of eels engraved into brass.

For more information, visit www.visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/walking/ely-eel-trail

6. Afternoon tea. A relaxing pastime for many British people is enjoying afternoon tea on a hot summer's afternoon. There are many choices from iced coffee, the finest teas from all over the world, scones with jam and teacakes. A favorite location for many locals is Peacock's Tea Room, which is located near the Great River Ouse.

For more information, visit www.visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/category/food-drink/eating-out/tea-room

7. Antique shops. Britain, and the city of Ely, is steeped in history and tradition. Many people enjoy browsing the shops in search of hidden treasures they can display in their home and enjoy as a reminder of their time stationed in England when they return stateside. Visitors can spend hours looking at the many items for sale in the three-level shop that is Waterside Antiques. As the name suggests, it's located near the Great River Ouse and visitors can enjoy looking for anything from oak-carved writing tables built in 1840, to Victorian mantle clocks, Edwardian figurines and beautiful vintage jewellery.

For more information, visit www.watersideantiques.co.uk/home.htm

8. Jubliee Gardens. This green space is also located near the river so visitors can enjoy this park while walking to another attraction. In the summer there is often a variety of entertainment on offer in the bandstand. Visitors can park their vehicle in the Cathedral Car Park, then walk down the hill to this green.

For more information, visit www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g186226-d1629828/Ely:United-Kingdom:Jubilee.Gardens.html

9. Food and drink. There is a variety of restaurants in Ely catering to every pallet. Down by the river, there are pubs offering "pub grub" and others offering finer dining. (There are a variety of restaurants that cater to different cuisines.) The Almonry, located next to the cathedral within medieval buildings, has offered hospitality since medieval times.

For more information, visit www.yell.com/s/restaurants-ely-cambridgeshire.html

10. Fireworks on Cherry Hill Park. For a night during November, the sky above Cherry Hill Park comes alive with an extravagant firework display to celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes was stopped from blowing up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Today, many villages and towns throughout Britain come together to celebrate by lighting a bonfire and watching a firework display. In Ely, the backdrop of the cathedral lit-up provides a wonderful setting for this event.

For more information, visit www.cambridgeshire.net/event/ely-fireworks-spectacular/118458.aspx

Editor's Note: Information courtesy of

www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=21883
www.visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/history/draining-fens
www.olivercromwell.org/
www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/guy_fawkes
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~engcam/cvermydn.htm

No federal endorsement implied for any of the events or establishments listed.