Tag Archives: Ely

Climbing the rigging of the Ship of the Fens

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Ely Cathedral is an amazing place – most of the structure being an outstanding feat of engineering nearly a thousand years old.

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I’ve been visiting it for about the last thirty, but not until a couple of weeks ago did I go on one of the tours that let you see behind the scenes. Or ‘above the scenes’, really; you go right up into the octagon. You see those paintings of angels at the top of the picture above? Here they are a little closer:

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And here’s the view if you look down:

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The lead on the roof outside is also rather pleasing.

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And behind the decorations, millennium-old tree trunks hold it together.

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Lots of good launching points for birds.

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This clock is high up on the western tower – normally only seen from a couple of hundred feet below!

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And stained glass, I always think, is best enjoyed close-up.

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Definitely recommended if you get the chance. More information about the tours can be found here.

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Cathedrals in the mist

We had dinner in Ely tonight and walked around the cathedral afterwards in a wonderful, autumnal mist. I only had my little pocket camera with me, but got a nice photo or two by doing things like setting the timer and using Hap’s hat as a tripod (which works better when he isn’t wearing it, by the way).

A couple of others here.

© Copyright Quentin Stafford-Fraser