The Octagon

 

Note the eight sided tower to the right of the photos

                                         Inside, the central nave of the cathedral with its decorated ceiling

                                                               A close up of the ceiling.

A glimpse of its central masterpiece – the Octagon. 

The Octagon looking up from below

A close up of the Octagon. Zoom in and notice the attention to detail, which those below probably 

wouldn’t see – the wounds to Christ’s body and hands – theologically interesting since He is presumably 

now in Heaven – but a reminder perhaps for those who couldn’t actually see what He was reminding them 

of. 

When the cathedral was first built, it had a square stone central tower. The area beneath this was set aside for use by the monks. Here they would gather, screened off from the hoi polloi to pray—eight times a day including a brief night shift.

In 1332 disaster struck when the original tower crashed to the ground. Fortunately, the monks were not at prayer, and no one was injured or killed. The monks though, faced one enormous challenge— clearing the mass of rubble and working out how to rebuild a much safer central tower. 

 

Over the next twenty years, an octagon rose from the ruins. It was designed by William Hurley, Edward III’s master carpenter, and after all the clearing was done took 14 years to build, coming in at 400 tonnes. An eight-sided stone tower provided firm foundations, for the wooden dome crowned with a Lantern that spanned the wide central space. This oak Lantern was and is unique, a masterpiece of medieval craftsmanship and innovation.

Inside, the gilded paintwork, intricate stone carvings and brightly coloured windows add a rich and exuberant decoration. Very high— at the very apex of the Lantern, a striking carving of Jesus forms the central ceiling boss. 

Ely’s monastery closed in 1539 via the Reformation. Vicars replaced monks. While the rest of the cathedral lay empty and unused, daily services continued under the Octagon, neglected and falling into disrepair.

By the late C18th, after 200 years of neglect, the Octagon was at serious risk of collapse. Major repairs averted disaster. The central space beneath was now used for preaching the Sunday sermon. 

In the late C19th, further restoration renewed the Octagon’s breath-taking beauty, with new stained glass and repainting of the vaulted ceiling and Lantern

Probably one more post to follow, but Ely has become my favourite Cathedral.