2-713-162 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire, c1955-c1980. An interior view of the two rows of traceried windows above the choir in Ely Cathedral, with a partial view of the organ pipes to the right and the richly carved choir benches below. The image shows the carved benches of the choir at the bottom of the image, with panels at the top of the bench with biblical scenes underneath a trefoil arcade and topped with crocketed pinnacles. Behind the bench is a partial view of the arcading with crocketed corbels which support the vertical shafts of the traceried row of arches above. To the right is a partial view of the organ pipes, with a carving of two angelic busts which look down towards the choir. Further above is a row of traceried windows with stained glass. The current cathedral was built by 1350, and begun by Simeon in 1083, and there has been little building since then, except for some major restorative work in the mid 19th century by Sir Gilbert Scott. The nave and transepts date from the 12th century, the chancel and west porch from the 13th century, and the central crossing, Lady Chapel and lantern are 14th century. The original crossing tower collapsed in 1322, and the current octagonal tower was built by Alan of Walsingham. Most of the cathedral is built with ashlar faced Barnack limestone.