In Cambridgeshire, England, among the marshy bogs of the East, is one of the smallest yet one of the most fascinating cities in the entire country: The cathedral town of Ely. Ely is rich with the kind of history that draws everyone from the amateur archeology buff to the anthropology major. Ever since the 600s this swampy land has been home to abbeys and monks who lived off the land as they prayed to the sky. It has been rumored that the town actually got its name because it was literally "eely"; many of the settlers in the days before the Middle Ages even used to barter with and eat the many eels that lived among the marshes. The Fens, which is the proper name for the marshy area that permeates Ely, has always played a part in the development of the city, from the years when Saxons fought Danes among the swamp to the days when King Charles first declared Ely a Royal Charter city.
Though many of the more incredible buildings in Ely, like Ely Castle, were destroyed hundreds of years ago, there are still some fascinating relics that still inspire awe in the eyes of all who behold them. Chief among these edifices is the stunning Ely Cathedral. This imposing behemoth was created in the early 1000s and, though some towers have collapsed over the years, the octagonal masterpiece is still a major draw for Christians all over the world. Fortunately, Ely still pays homage to its roots and the many old buildings and ancient winding streets immediately bring to mind a city lost in time. Every Saturday and Thursday a market square is held wherein locals and tourists alike come to peruse homemade treasures and dated marvels. The Great Ouse River is another popular area and though it was the lifeblood of this aged city for centuries, it is now a busy marina with a very popular boating tradition. Each year the University of Cambridge trains on the Ouse for the Great Boat Race against Oxford.
One of the most popular citizens of Ely is none other than the highly esteemed Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was behind the Royal Charter given to Ely by the King Charles I and his former home, built in the fifteen hundreds, is a major tourist attraction to all Cromwell fans and is now used as a Tourist Information site. Other famous people from Ely include actor Guy Pearce, Kevin De La Noy, and author Jim Kelly. In a city as small and unique as Ely, it is astonishing to learn just how many current celebrities call it home. Clearly a large factor for the many emigrants to Ely has to do with the natural beauty of the Ouse and the The Fens (the wetland marsh area that once covered the entire area of Ely) mixed with the ornate and beautiful cathedrals, churches, and buildings that have been erected throughout the years. Though Ely is sometimes overshadowed by the nearby city of Cambridge, it is a city all its own when it comes to the impressive architecture and lush flora that can be found everywhere you look.
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