Ely cathedral and city
The abbey island in the middle of the Fens
In 1322 disaster struck Ely cathedral. The Norman tower of the cathedral collapsed, bringing much of the church down in its wake.
Some men would have wept. But Alan of Walsingham, in charge of the rebuilding effort, had a wonderful dream. He went on to mastermind the construction of a unique, amazing octagonal lantern turret that is Ely's glory - and was probably the most avant garde architecture in the England of its day.
But Ely has other things to offer, too. A fine Norman nave, in creamy Barnack stone; a huge labyrinth in the pavement; interesting monastic buildings; and the luminous Lady Chapel, another unique work built under Alan of Walsingham's rule. Add a few rather good monuments and two of the most ornate chantry chapels in the whole of England, and you have a cathedral that's not to be missed.
Our Podtour™ introduces you to Alan of Walsingham and his superiors, Prior Crauden and Bishop Hotham, and the way they changed Ely for ever. And we learn about some of the medieval politics in which the bishops of Ely became embroiled... and why Alan of Walsingham never became a bishop.
Price: £3.75
We've started our Podtour™ at the station, for those coming by train. Or you can join it at the Ely Porta, the gate to the monastery buildings.
Other Podtours of cathedrals in Eastern England include:
- Peterborough - a free Podtour
- Norwich cathedral (and Norwich 1450, a visit to the late medieval heritage of the city )