Advantages: A pastoral corner of England, with statistical interest Disadvantages: Of selective appeal
There are times when one has the niggling, slightly crushing feeling that one has missed one's calling in life. Could I have been a journalist? Possibly a teacher? Should I have throttled Chris Martin of Coldplay when he was within reaching distance? And based on this conversation with a hugely distinguished long-standing person of this parish, surely it's a scandal that I haven't been heading up the Fenland Tourist Board for my entire adult life?
Me: I'm writing about one of Cambridgeshire's most alluring attractions.
Her: Go on then...
M: Holme Fen
H: What's that?
M: It's a fen
H. Oh right. Is there a park there?
M: No
H: Picnic tables
M: Not that I've noticed.
H: A nice view?
M: Yes! Erm...actually, no. Depends on how you like your ...
A few weeks ago the present Mr Tart and myself spent the weekend in Cambridge. We were only a few miles away from Ely and despite some claims that he was ?History-ed' out he agreed to drive there on the Sunday morning. I was really excited about seeing the cathedral being a bit of a History nut. I love cathedrals and have a thing about seeing them whenever I go somewhere I havent been before.
SOME HISTORY:
An abbey was founded on the site in around 673 by Saint Etheldreda (youve got to love those Saxon names!). The cathedral was begun in the 11th century. The monastery part of the Cathedral was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 and some parts of the Cathedral were destroyed, such as Saint Etheldredas shrine.
GETTING THERE:
Ely is in Cambridgeshire, about 14 miles north of Cambridge. It is on the A10. Driving towards the city ...
