What do you know about the history of your own town or village?

On our visit to Ely Cathedral we are going to learn about what life was like in Ely Diocese in past centuries. Some of the workshops will be about life at the Cathedral in the past, and some will be about the lives of people all over Cambridgeshire and Norfolk – including where we live, and our ancestors.

The timeline is starting in 673 when the very first church was built in Ely by Queen Etheldreda on the site of the Cathedral.

You will be hearing the story of Etheldreda when you visit the Cathedral.

Do you know how old your local church building is – was there an even older church on that site before that date?

In the 9th Century our area of the country came under the rule of Danish invaders. The monastery at Ely was destroyed and rebuilt several times in this period.

Some places in our area were named by the Danes e.g. Toft, Brinkley, Carlton. Boxworth, Pampisford and Bourn. Most of our places kept their Anglo Saxon names like Ely which means “island of eels”. What does the name of your village or town mean?

In the Middle Ages Ely was a great monastery and the cathedral was the church of the monastery. There were many monasteries in our area in the Middle Ages which have now almost entirely disappeared. Were there any near where you live? If there were, your ancestors probably went there on pilgrimage or to get medical help, or, if they were very poor, to ask for help to feed and clothe their families. Some would have worked for the monks on their farms.

In Tudor Times the monasteries were closed by order of Henry VIII. Some became homes for the rich, some were broken up and the stones re-used. Are there homes near you which date back to Tudor times?

This is the death mask of Oliver Cromwell who ruled England after the execution of King Charles I. He was born in Huntingdon in 1599. He also lived in Ely for a time – if you are coming to the Cathedral from the south or west, look out for his house on your right (it’s now the Tourist Information Office).

He is especially remembered at Ely Cathedral as he closed the Cathedral for about ten years because he didn’t like the way the clergy took the services.

Can you find different places named after Cromwell in your area? (This will be especially easy to do if you live near Huntingdon!)

In the Victorian Period the British Empire expanded around the world. Probably men from your village or town would have gone abroad to fight or keep the peace in places like Africa or India, perhaps your great great great great great grandad was one! Are there memorials in your church to some of these local men?

The militia was based in Ely for this period and you can still see some of the soldiers’ houses. Look out for the cannon on the Green opposite the Cathedral – it was captured from the Russians in the Crimean War and given to Ely by Queen Victoria in 1860.

You probably know quite a lot about World War One already.

Ely Cathedral is where the Cambridgeshire Regiment “lays up its colours” – look for the flags in the North Transept when you visit. Also in the North Transept is the Chapel of St George which contains the Roll of Honour of all the fallen of the county in World War One – they are listed by village – why not look for your village on the big boards? The list should match the names on your war memorial.

1976-2015 40 Years!

2015 is the 40th Anniversary of the Schools Cathedral Days - you are going to be a part of Ely Cathedral’s history!