Ely

Introduction

R and I stayed in Cambridge for a few days in April to visit R’s mum and some friends. On one of those days we walked to the station and took a short train journey to Ely.

Roofs in Cambridge from Kingston Street.
1/500 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°11′57″N 0°8′22″E

Ely

We were mainly in Ely to see one of R’s friends who lives there. After meeting up with her, we had the afternoon free; we went to visit the famous cathedral, which I’d never seen.

Metal railings.
1/1000 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′45″N 0°15′59″E
Gateway near private school.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′48″N 0°15′43″E

Ely Cathedral

The cathedral is quite large and impressive. You have to pay to get in; they seem to get quite a lot of visitors, although it wasn’t crowded.

Wooden railing.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO400 52°23′54″N 0°15′49″E
Circular heater (Gurney’s Patent).
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO400 52°23′54″N 0°15′49″E
Looking up at the octagonal tower windows in the centre.
1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO400 52°23′54″N 0°15′49″E
Aged flags.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO400 52°23′54″N 0°15′49″E
Medieval wall paintings.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′54″N 0°15′49″E
Door and arches.
1/15 at f4, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′50″E
Painted ceilings above the main aisle.
1/15 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′55″N 0°15′50″E
Sunlight shining on the memorial stone for a previous dean.
1/60 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′55″N 0°15′50″E
You know it’s a gothic cathedral: there are actual cobwebs.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Nice of them to save the Foundress a seat, but perhaps a little optimistic.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Colourful glass.
1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Complicated decorative screen.
1/30 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Cheerful monster about to snack on somebody’s head.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Military flags.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Trolley.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E

There is a ‘lady chapel’ dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as in many churches, but this one is basically a separate large building attached to the main cathedral.

Looking across (most of) the width of it.
1/60 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
The pose looks a little odd - is she praying, or raving? I like the blue though.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E
Window showing spires of the cathedral.
1/1000 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′55″N 0°15′51″E

Back in the main cathedral, we finished our tour, deciding not to climb the tower (it was quite expensive, and we wanted to eat lunch).

Candle dump.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′55″N 0°15′50″E
A very old door.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′56″N 0°15′48″E
Stained glass and chequerboard flooring.
1/30 at f4, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′56″N 0°15′47″E
Chairs.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 52°23′56″N 0°15′46″E

Outside

Exterior view.
1/1000 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′53″N 0°15′49″E

We went to have lunch (in what turned out to be the cathedral’s café), then took a very short walk to the riverside on our way back to the railway station.

S. (Building on the corner of Ship Lane.)
1/1000 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′43″N 0°16′10″E

Near the station we passed the premises of Standen, which appears to be an operational manufacturing company (you need a gigantic cathedral in your town to get miracles like that). It makes potato harvesting machines.

Back yard of Standen works.
1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′36″N 0°15′59″E
Annesdale (street name).
1/500 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′36″N 0°15′57″E
Standen reception.
1/500 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′33″N 0°15′59″E
Looking up the stairs in Ely station.
1/250 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 52°23′26″N 0°15′59″E

We got back to Cambridge in good time.

A friendly leopard.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 52°12′4″N 0°8′25″E

All images © Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved.