We took a day out to go to the Isle of Ely from Kettering with Paul and Rachel. A pleasant 50 mile journey through the Fens with drains and embankments to keep some of the best farmland in Britain healthy.
Our main stopping point was the Ely Cathedral, the gallery has quite a few images of this special place.Rachel and I climbed the 176 steps of the Octagonal Tower, indeed to the highest possible roof. Amazing views across the Fens and Cambridge visible from there. The entire towe is made of timber some of it dating back to before the 14th Century CE where second hand timbers were used. Inside the 8 sides each have four panels that are painted with pictures of all the instruments referred to in Psalm 150 and one of the panels in each section is hinged (See Rachel peering out of one of them in the gallery), intended for the monks (when in residence) to participate in worship by calling down from the roof in responses to the choir which is quite visible from here.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me. (Psalm 42:7)
This was a truly wonderful visit and clearly a place to be explored more in depth.
Ely is also the home of Oliver Cromwell and a visit to his home was very much in order. Here we saw the development of a young family to a leader in the nation of Britain of some significance.
Good day out and worth another visit.
