THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF
ELY

A HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
OF THE BUILDING WITH A SHORT
ACCOUNT OF THE FORMER
MONASTERY AND OF THE SEE

BY

THE REV. W. D. SWEETING, M.A.

VICAR OF HOLY TRINITY, ROTHERHITHE
AND
AUTHOR OF "PETERBOROUGH"

WITH XLVII ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON GEORGE BELL & SONS 1910

First Published June 1901.
Reprinted 1902, 1910.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

It is hardly necessary to give a complete list of all the authorities consulted in the preparation of this book. As specially valuable for Ely may be named the "Liber Eliensis" and the "Inquisitio Eliensis"; the histories of Bentham, Hewett, and Stewart; the "Memorials of Ely," and the Handbook to the Cathedral edited and revised by the late Dean; Professor Freeman's Introduction to Farren's "Cathedral Cities of Ely and Norwich"; and the various reports of Sir G. G. Scott. But numerous other sources of information have been examined, and have supplied facts or theories; and in nearly every instance, particularly where the very words are quoted, the authority is given in the text or in the notes.

My best thanks are due to the Dean of Ely for his ready courtesy in allowing free access to every part of the cathedral and for his solution of various difficulties which had presented themselves in comparing different accounts of the fabric. I have also to thank the Rev. T. Perkins and the Photochrom Company for the use of the photographs from which the illustrations have been prepared. For many curious details, and for the loan of some books that are out of print and difficult to obtain, I acknowledge my obligation to Mr. C. Johnson, of Ely.

W. D. SWEETING.

LIST OF CONTENTS.