Restoring Glory: Ely Cathedral’s Victorian Story

Part of the ‘Stories of Ely Cathedral’ Tour Series. Monday 9 – Saturday 14 March.

Step back 150 years and imagine Ely Cathedral right in the middle of an ambitious restoration programme. It all started when George Peacock became Dean in 1839 and really took off once architect George Gilbert Scott arrived in 1847. Together they set in motion what became the most ambitious restoration of any British cathedral attempted at that time – re-imagining the inside, outside and from top to bottom, Their mission? To repair the damage left by the Reformation and peel away the layers that had built up over the centuries, hiding the beauty of the medieval building.

On this tour, your guide will take you back to 1871, showing you how the Cathedral looked to visitors at the time. As you explore, you’ll meet the characters who shaped this huge project – The Dean, the clergy, the architect, plus the painters, carpenters and metalworkers who all played a part. This is an inspiring journey into the Victorian era that brings their stories to life and show how their work created the Ely Cathedral we know today.