Ely Cathedral & Old Fire Engine House Restaurant

Highly regarded by historians and architects for its beauty and size, Ely Cathedral is the only building in the UK to be listed as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Medieval World’. Visible for miles around, the Cathedral is often referred to as ‘The Ship of the Fens’, as it towers over the surrounding low-lying fenland. A magnificent structure with a history dating back over 1300 years, Ely has an association with many who have shaped its history including William the Conqueror, Henry III, Edward III, and Oliver Cromwell. More recently the Cathedral has become known as a film location, having being used as a film set for ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’, ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and ‘The King’s Speech’.

The 14th century Octagon tower and its unique wooden lantern are considered one of the wonders of the medieval world, and are absolutely breathtaking. Named a lantern because it lets in so much light, eight enormous stone columns frame the space, and higher still, the famed Ely Cathedral Lantern shines above, with eight intricate stained-glass windows encircling a panelled wood ceiling, painted in bright colours and forming an eight-point star overhead. 

Ely was once an island surrounded by marshes and famed for its eels, a valuable source of income for the city, in fact the Cathedral was built from stone quarried from Northamptonshire which the the monks paid for with 8000 eels a year. Eels are still caught in the Great River Ouse, and smoked eels are available at the Farmers Market, which we visited while in Ely. The city even has an Eel Festival each May that pays homage to the city’s historical connection with eels and begins with a colourful Eel Parade, where participants dress up in eel costumes and march through the city’s streets, followed by one of the festival’s highlights, the traditional eel-throwing competition. Maybe next time!

Ely cathedral is surrounded by beautiful parkland, meadows and cows

such as this handsome trio in Cherry Hill Park

The Cathedral was built from stone quarried from Barnack in Northamptonshire 

and purchased for 8000 eels a year transported along the river

The magnificent painted timber board ceiling in the nave was painted 

between 1858 and 1862 by Henry Styleman le Strange with scenes from the Old and New Testaments

The cathedral is known for its impressive octagonal tower and breathtaking stained glass windows

One of the wonders of medieval engineering, the 14th-century Octagonal Tower of Ely Cathedral completed in 1342 is considered one of the wonders of the medieval world 

View into the14th Century Lady Chapel

Wandering along Church Lane with a lovely view of Ely Cathedral,

on our way to lunch at Old Fire Engine House Restaurant

The 18th-century Old Fire Engine House Restaurant and Walled Garden in Ely

and the town's horse-drawn fire engine was kept there at the turn of the century

The Old Fire Engine House Restaurant Bar

The Lunch menu changes daily and local seasonal ingredients

Fresh bread from The General Store Bakery on St Mary's Street in Ely

Fresh churned butter

Pea, Lettuce and Mint Soup

Smoked Mackerel and Cream Cheese Paté

Beef Braised with Guiness

Venison Casserole

Fresh Haddock with Prawn and Chive Sauce

Seasonal Vegetable for the table with courgettes, carrots and cabbage

My stepson Harry with little baby Mia, our first granddaughter

Cambridge Burnt Cream

Homemade Rice Pudding with Cherries

Apple and Blackberry Pie with Cream

Dark Chocolate Mousse in a beautiful vintage teacup

Ann Jarman runs the restaurant with two friends since 1986,

who I met while sneaking a peek into the kitchen where braised oxtails were cooking

www.theoldfireenginehouse.co.uk