Recent discoveries at Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire: Aetheldreda’s Gate, the church of Holy Cross and the possible boundary of the Anglo-Saxon monastery

ABSTRACT

Recent fieldwork ahead of construction in Ely Cathedral precinct has identified two documented but ‘lost’ medieval buildings, in addition to a large boundary ditch and other deposits which potentially relate to the monastery founded by St Aetheldreda in the late seventh century. The excavations provide an opportunity to review the currently limited state of knowledge regarding the location and layout of the Anglo-Saxon monastery at Ely and to put forward some models to be tested through future fieldwork.

Acknowledgements

The Almonry excavation and Cross Green Swale monitoring were commissioned by Philip Dixon on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Ely Cathedral, who generously funded the investigations and post-excavation analysis. The Canonry House watching brief was commissioned and funded by the King’s School, Ely. The Almonry excavations were directed by Peter Boyer, assisted by the author, Mary-Anne Slater, Lawrence Morgan-Shelbourne and Liz Jeffries. The Swale monitoring was conducted by Mary-Anne Slater and Aileen Tierney, assisted by Sîan O’Neill and Matthew Jones, and the Canonry watching brief by Mary-Anne Slater. All three projects were managed for PCA by Mark Hinman. PCA are grateful to Ely Cathedral Works Department and the Almonry Restaurant for their kind assistance during the fieldwork. Particular thanks are due to Philip Dixon and Roland Harris, respectively the former and current Ely Cathedral Archaeologists, for their assistance and advice. Illustrations are by Josephine Brown and Cate Davies of PCA’s Drawing Office; finds drawings are by Vicki Herring. The author is grateful to staff at Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Record, in particular Ruth Beckley, for her assistance; to Cambridge University Library, for access to literature; and to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and advice.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ely Cathedral; the King’s School, Ely.