Stories of Ely Cathedral - A Social History

If you know where to look - the stories that connect the Cathedral and the city in the 19th century reveal a rich social history and plenty of mystery.

You’ll set about revealing some of these stories and a few mysteries with your guide.

You’ll hear that by the mid-19th century it was no longer possible to bury the great and the good within the Cathedral so in 1862 Ely set about acquiring 48 grave plots within the newly opened city cemetery. These burials have proved a time capsule of information about those connected with the Cathedral for over a century. Not just the dean and clergy, but vergers, choristers, local tradesmen, builders as well as their families and servants.

So, who was Ely’s foremost astronomer with an observatory in his garden? Which Dean challenged an Oxford colleague to a race thereby instigating the annual Cambridge / Oxford boat race? And which Canon helped formulate the rules of football?

Dates & Times:
Monday 28 April, 12.30pm & Thursday 1 May, 12.30pm.

Please meet inside the West Door (main entrance), 10 minutes prior to the tour start time.

Additional Information: Please note that this tour takes place within the Cathedral.