Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658) lived in Ely for some considerable time, whilst he was the Member of Parliament for a constituency which encompassed Cambridge. He was a very active and effective M.P., but it was only with the onset of the English Civil War (1642 - 1649) that his innate aptitude for military tactics and strategy blossomed. Parliament appointed him the first: 'Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland'. His onetime family home is now an excellent museum, and the local Tourist Information Office.
The small city of Ely (denoted as such, because it has a cathedral; unlike Noth America; where the criterion for such designation is ownership of a traffic light!) has a long history; from the first millenium (C.E.), when it was small community, established on an outcropping of clay; just a scant few feet higher than the many miles of surrounding marsh and fen-land. From all directions of approach, the cathedral can be seen at a great distance ...
and it certainly dominates the surrounding flat, low-lying ground.
The community is compact and charming; having managed to stave off much of modern development. Despite being in the centre of the city, the cathedral itself (used for the coronation scenes in the movie: The King's Speech) is almost hidden form view by the narrowness of the streets ... but once encountered is breathtaking.
As commonly found in Norman construction, from some angles it presents itself as much a defensible military structure, as a place of worship!
On the days we visited, the cathedral was being used as the venue for a film production, but impressive, nonetheless.
Whilst folks in the Middle Ages did not have access to ice-cream; nonetheless, local purveyors of the delicacy do their best to fit in with the surroundings!
The weather being clement, we availed ourselves of some of this vendor's wares!
More anon ...
The places I saw here are really wonderful, celebrating a special event like this with the beauty of nature is really cool. When you are in this place for corporate events Chicago, there's nothing you can do than to be happy. I really liked it here.
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