Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Thursday 11 April 2013

An Historical Trip to Ely (which has hills!!)

Sometimes I feel that all I want to do is float on a river, with the sun on my back just listening to the water faintly hit the shore or the side of a canal boat.  Just rise and fall with the ebb of the tide.  No cares or worries even for just a moment.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my piece of artful photography of the glass, which is still glistening in the sunshine while the insurance company argues on who is going to pay (don't get me started on that one!).  However, onwards and upwards, my week was not going to be spoiled by the dark cloud that hangs over my house at the moment, my car was fixed so I was able to take the teenagers and Mumsy out again.

We had planned to visit Ely during the last holiday but snow was pending so we postponed that trip, however we were promised sunshine during the early part of the week so off we set.  I decided that we would go by train as I didn't want to tempt fate, so we had a leisurely train journey from Spalding to Ely through the very damp fens!

Ely is another Cathedral City.  I had read about it, seen photos, skirted past it while travelling around, but never actually been.  So we were all interested on what we would find.

So, are you ready again with your nice cup of tea and snack of your choice while we go on a little discovery tour?  Here we go then...

The Cathedral is built on a hill and has the nickname the Ship of the Fens.  From a distance it certainly looked impressive.

The resident donkey certainly was a happy soul.

Now, Mr and Miss Teenager having lived in Lincolnshire most of their lives, do not experience hills that often.  I was surprised at how excited they were when faced with this one, and promptly raced to the top to come rolling down.  So, one arm hurt and trousers muddied...we continued.

Along with the happy donkey there was a horse that was enjoying the low branches of this tree.  The whole time we were there she was busy having a back scratch, totally oblivious to the hilarity that was going on with two teenagers rolling down a hill!

On we went to Ely Cathedral.

The Cannon was given to the people of Ely by Queen Victoria in 1860.

The side of the Cathedral shows the magnitude of the place (however, not a patch on Peterborough Cathedral - but then again I am biased!).

Do you want to take a look inside?  As you are now aware, I am obsessed with doors!

Inside there was a business exhibition.  Now this made taking photos difficult due to the amount of bill boards advertising around the tombs etc and took away some of the magic of the place.  However, we persevered.  The ceiling was beautifully painted.

And the nave led you on to more beautiful structures.

The area below the octagon tower was very interesting with its different architectural styles.

And looking up at the octagon tower made me feel as though I was looking through a kaleidoscope.

A closer look at the ceiling within the tower...I could have stayed under this for hours!

Then through the screen towards the high altar.

The high altar was incredibly impressive.

And I fell in love with the candelabras next to it.  The ornate carvings, the glass work, and then the stonework behind.  Exquisite.

In amongst this area were all the tombs of the previous Bishops.  Incredibly ornate.

And the stained glass was so colourful and perfect.

Regimental flags adorned parts of the Cathedral.

Some along by the altar.

But time was ticking by and there was still so much to see around Ely.  So off went to Oliver Cromwell's House which is just across from the Cathedral.

We really enjoyed our time in here as there were people in period costume demonstrating how the Cromwell's would have lived.  But, not these two!!

There are only two remaining buildings that have survived that Oliver Cromwell lived in.  This one and Hampton Court.  Apparently some parts of this house date back to the 13th century.  Cromwell inherited the house along with the title Farmer of the Tithes which could be translated to local tax collector.

Here we have the kitchen with its hearth and fridge (which is the little room at the top of the picture).  Here they prepared all the food, a favourite of Mrs Cromwell was Eel Pie!  Oliver Cromwell's favourite was roast veal with oranges.

Here we have a welcoming room (?!) where a video is played before you go through the little door to the next part (they must have been very short in those days!).

And here he is in the study.



Now then, I took some photos in the bedroom, however the atmosphere was not particularly pleasant in that room and the photos I took showed orbs.  Perfectly acceptable if you don't believe in orbs and suchlike, but we were all individually shaken by that room.  Once we left we found out that others say that there is a presence of someone in the room and that the Ghost Tours actually visit the 'Haunted Bedroom'.  Cromwell died in 1658 but was exhumed and posthumously executed in 1661.

Anyway, on with the tour!

Like Kings Lynn (my previous post here), there are a number of various centuries represented in the architecture around the City.  I just love this little cottage which is called 'St Mary's' and is dated 1550 (about the age of my previous old thatched cottage home).

And then there are the grander style homes.

This is the Chantry.  Notice the flag flying half mast in respect of the announced death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher.

Then, going through the streets heading down to the water front there are little streets such as this with its red post box (pillar box).

And just further down is this beautiful dinky little cottage with herring bone brick work and beams.  I love the neighbour's sash window too with its little cottages on the ledge.  

So now on to the river bank and...drum roll...my heart skipping like a little kid...CANAL BOATS!!!  As well as old doors, canal boats are my ultimate dream!!  

Mr and Miss Teenager are so bored by my love of them, but can you imagine just messing about by the water.  Time would be of no consequence, in fact time would be going backwards.

As we walked (rather a long way) along the river bank I couldn't stop smiling.

To me this life would be home.  No broken patio doors to contend with, no endless housework and drudgery.  Just a small cabin space to fill with functional and happy things.  AND THEN...there it was...my dream canal boat.  Exactly what I spend so much time thinking and dreaming about...

Isn't she beautiful?  The right colour, the right design, the right accessories.  One day my beauty, one day!

So, with time now seriously against us, we watched the funny looking Muscovy Ducks having a wash.

 And that elegant sleeping swan gave me one last look before we headed off.

Back to the station we went to wait for the train and a well deserved sit down and rest for half an hour.

So that is Ely now ticked and off the list of things to see.  Tomorrow (Friday) both me and Mumsy are off to Sandringham to the craft fair.  This is a regular thing we go to which is set within the grounds of Sandringham House.  It looks to be rainy but hey, this is crafts!!

Thank you all for your lovely comments and to my new lovely followers, welcome and thanks again!  Have a wonderful weekend with all your inspirational creations.


Take care.



This week I am sharing with:

42 comments:

  1. Oh I am completely enchanted and in love with your country. Such antiquities- the castles, the buildings, the architecture - how I long to walk about and absorb it all. We have absolutely nothing to compare to it here - we are so new. We once lived in a house built in 1888 and that is considered old for the west coast of our country.

    The church was beyond amazing- I can't imagine the years it took to build it - stunning.

    Thank you so much for the lovely tour - it is one of the best I've seen.

    And the canal boats - such wondrous adventures you could have. Right now I'm reading a book about a couple that lives in a houseboat (I think our version of canal boats) on Powell Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is very interesting to see how different their life is just in the change of living on water instead of land. My dream - a houseboat vacation!!! It is the most I can hope for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here at this present time. But one day I'll be out there dealing with all the different sets of problems of living on a house on a river! Take care. Chel x

      Delete
  2. Hi Chel, thanks again for such a wonderful tour. It was so cute to see your teenagers so playful rolling down the hills. I loved looking at the donkey, the horse, the Cathedral, the Cromwell's house and you have me a little shaken up about the orbs thing in the bedroom. I loved the canal boats, they are so interesting and it sounds like you all had a nice day together. Have fun tomorrow at the craft fair. Thanks for such an interesting tour of everything. Take care, Julie X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Julie, I think after my break from work I need another one to get over that day! Chel x

      Delete
  3. Once again, I have been swept away to another country! I always love looking at your photos! The architecture in these buildings is amazing...:) Have a fun day with your mum at the craft fair tomorrow...:)

    Blessings Sweet Friend,
    Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vicky. The craft fair was great and photos will be coming on this week of some of the stalls. Take care. Chel x

      Delete
  4. I feel the same way...like I'm swept away to another country. You packed a lot into this trip and took amazing photos! Hope your day at the fair will be fabulous, too! Sweet hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly was, photos to follow!! Take care. Chel x

      Delete
  5. Fabulous photos. What amazing history and architecture, thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh to be able to
    1. hop on a train (no trains here)
    2. head for such a wonderful town!

    Thank you for sharing your day - it was a treat. One of my dreams is to take a canal boat holiday - you've fueled that dream!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow - what a wonderful place to visit - loved all your photos especially the donkey. The cathedral is certainly an amazing place and such a quaint town. Glad you all enjoyed your day. Just one question - how did you manage to insert the photo of the teenagers inside the other photo?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elaine, this is through http://www.picmonkey.com/ You put your main picture on to edit and then go to the icon for overlays. Choose 'pick your own' and then insert the photo you want to use. Great site and it's free! Take care. Chel x

      Delete
  8. Another great post, Chel. Fab photos and interesting ditties to go with them. I learned a lot! Thanks for sharing. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amazing pics, I am overwhelmed... in a very good way! And I wanna feel like the happy donkey, please!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank-you for the guided tour of Ely. I have never been - in fact I don't think I have every been near the Fens. But one day, I will! Cathedrals make my heart skip and your photos of Ely Cath,. were no exception. I love the ceiling the best and as a traveller visiting here I would be so thankful for the reflective glass on the floor. It would be much easier to stare down at the reflection than up at the roof for the hours it would take to notice every single detail!! While in Stratford last year, hubby and hour studied the many canal boats parked on the Avon. Some are pretty spectacular, eh? Maybe you can retire onto one someday!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks B, I plan on doing exactly that one day along with getting a VW Camper Van for road adventures! Oh to dream! Take care. Chel x

      Delete
  11. Thank you for naming the duck! I seen some a few months back and ive been trying to find out what they were. Muscovy ducks, now I know. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They reminded me a bit of Elvis as they have a bit of a quiff! :)

      Delete
  12. Thank you so much for this post. I have such fond memories of a day I spent in Ely. It's like we had the exact same day. I visited the cathedral and Cromwell's house. I remember I had a very uneasy feeling in Cromwell's bedroom, especially enhanced by the fact that I was all alone taking the tour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really don't think I would have stayed in that room for much longer, and you are so brave for being there alone. Take care. Chelx

      Delete
  13. Oh my goodness! Your posts are such a treat! I like the story about your kids rolling down the hill and the horse not caring at all! What a fabulous cathedral! The Cromwell home was interesting to see...too bad you get an uncomfortable feeling visiting there. Makes you wonder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gave me the chilly wobbles! Thank you so much for your lovely comments. The kids really were so excited, funny how we take things for granted. Take care. Chel x

      Delete
  14. So many lovely sights...I don't know which I like the best - maybe all of them! The Octagon tower with it's kaleidoscope stained glass and beautiful Angel paintings was lovely, and the street scene of the village and of course the charming canal boats! I do think it would be wonderful to simplify life and live aboard, but maybe the word 'leak' would take on new meaning. he he. I laughed out loud to see the teenagers rolling down the hills. I can remember doing that. Long, long time ago, I can still remember. Isn't that the lines of a song? Very much enjoyed the lovely tour, Chel, thank you for taking us along. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My teenagers were funny to watch, I have taken hills for granted but they very rarely see one and all 'coolness' went out of the window! Thanks for the lovely comments. Chel x

      Delete
  15. So many gorgeous captures I cannot pick a favorite -- you are so talented. Visiting from Weekly Top Shot.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely photos Chel. You really do have an eye for taking great pictures! I enjoy these posts so much - I get to be a tourist from the comfort of my chair :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for a beautiful and well done photo trip ~ love the canal boat too ~ beautiful animals and cathedral ~ Wonderful! ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  18. All very interesting and beautiful. The first swan photo is exquisite!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ely is a really lovely town. If you'd had more time there are some gorgeous tea places and the Waterside Antiques Centre which is a treasure trove!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the advice. We are going back there in the summer holidays but mainly to the riverside so I'll look out for the antiques centre. Chel x

      Delete
  20. For someone from Tennessee, Ely Cathedral boggles the mind. Those doors and windows and ceilings? Would I ever take the sight of them for granted if I lived there? Hard to imagine. I love these tours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dewena. Funny you saying about taking things for granted. When I lived in London I used to walk past all the buildings and goings on and never looked twice, now I am away from there, I can't wait to get back with the camera. Thank you so much for your kind comments. Chel x

      Delete
  21. Thank you so much for this wonderful photo journey, Chel!! I especially like the Cromwell house (the kitchen!!), and the canal boats :-). Now I have a surprise: There's an award waiting for you on my blog! Congratulations, here it is:
    http://natasnest.blogspot.de/2013/04/my-fourth-blog-award.html
    xxx Nata

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Nata for the award, you are so kind! I will take a look and answer the questions as soon as I can. Bless your heart! Chel x

      Delete
  22. I took almost an identical swan photo yesterday - the one with its head tucked in. It was sitting on a nest right by the path that we were walking on and never flinched as walkers with dogs passed within a foot or so of her.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh what a lovely group of photos. I am such a fan of English architecture, from the ornate to the thatched roof cottages. Thank you for sharing your trip.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such amazing photographs - thank you for the vivid descriptions, too. I almost felt as if I were with you on the tour. The cathedral is awe-inspiring. Loved the canal boats, too. What fun to just bob along, not a care in the world. I hope you have a wonderful time at the craft fair - more photos, please!

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a great trip and such lovely photos! I've had one or two haunting experiences while visiting ancient places. With all that history how could there not me a ghost or two lurking about!

    Thanks for sharing your experience and wonderful photos! : )X

    ReplyDelete
  26. Such beautiful photos, the cathedral looks amazing. What a lovely day out. I love the first photo of the swan.
    M x

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a great trip you had. But my favourite pic had to be the donkey! Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, you just brought me from Singapore to this magnificent Place -Ely. Great photos.

    Judy
    pursuitoffunctionalhome.com/

    ReplyDelete
  29. Loved this post! Amazing photos. I am on my way. I'm wondering what's the quickest way (besides driving) to get from London to Ely. Checking it out. My husband and I love visiting Cathedrals and Abbeys. We must see this. And of course, I'm also fascinated by doors and canal boats...and sheep...and drystone walls. Ah, England!

    ReplyDelete

Other Posts

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...