Ely Cathedral is named after the city of Ely. The city of Ely is named for eels. In the UK a city traditionally was not determined by population size, but by whether the place had a cathedral.
Ely cathedral, where the King's Speech was filmed. Also the location for several other films. (Americans say movies.) The charge for entry is eight pounds, plus another sum to see the stained glass exhibition.
Group Visits
Schools and other groups can book activities such as a guided walk up the tower.
Gift Shops
The cathedral has a gift shop on the ground floor. The gift shop on the exhibition level has lovely jewellery.
Tombs
The tombs varied in styles. Many were the classics of an oblong box with a pepiciton of the sleeping person lying on top. Sometimes with hands folded as if in prayer.
Roman Style Tomb
However, one tomb showed a man raised on one elbow, like a Roman reclining at a banquet. Apparently, according to a man sitting in a pew who was on the staff, that tomb dated from an era when all things Roman were the fashion.
The Stained Glass Exhibition
The stained glass exhibition was more interesting than I expected. It showed different techniques of making stained glass. plain glass could be used as a background for paint. Or use coloured glass. The latest was a kind of doubled glass with bubbles and swirls inside.
Glass through the ages, different subjects, not only religious topics, but also myths, classic stories, from all over the world. Near the gift shop was a stained glass window from a synagogue.
Parking
You can find parking. Just read the signs. We found one parking street which allowed parking for one hour. That is not enough when visiting the Cathedral, especially if you also want lunch and/or tea. We went for lunch in the Old Fire House Restaurant which is next to the cathedral. They had a parking place outside. We also parked in their car park.
The restaurant is reviewed in the next post.
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