"This is the most important archaeological excavation to be carried out in Cambridgeshire for quite some time" we were reliably informed by project team leader Alison.

"What we are looking at is the foundations of a Mediaeval building constructed around the 14th century".
As everybody knows, the Normans Invaded England at Hastings in 1066, an historic event recorded by the Bayeux Tapestry, but William didn't conquer Ely until the defeat of Anglo Saxon hero Hereward the Wake some years later.
After Hereward was defeated and England secured by the Norman Victors, work began replacing and updating all religious places, one such place being Ely's Monastery.
Work on the Cathedral as we know it began in 1083 and the monastic church, as was, became a monastic cathedral in 1109. We know the monastery at Ely was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 which puts the relic building in the realm of late mediaeval, Gothic, powerfully Christian early renaissance.


Notable things happening in the 14th Century would have been the dis-enchantment of the Crusades, the Bubonic Plague of 1348 onwards and the increased use of Gunpowder on the battle field. Simon de Montfort had already created the embryo of what would become Parliament proper a few hundred years later and Chaucer was Top of the Pops with The Canterbury Tales, an amusing tale of Christian Pilgrims written by one of England's most celebrated writers.

This was the century for nurturing the New way of Thinking. Spirituality gave ground to Science and would herald forth the period called Renaissance. But it that would come later. This was a fiercely turbulent Century...

The house of Normandy had long given way to the House of Plantagenet and the throne was held by Edward I who died in 1307 on the march to crush Scotland's Robert the Bruce.
The postponed battle took place at Bannockburn in 1314 with King Robert defeating Edward II and declaring Scotland independent.
During Edward II's reign, English Barons appointed 21 peers called the Lords Ordainers to manage the Kings Household, and the Order of the Knights Templer was abolished for malpractice's. In 1327 the burgeoning Parliament declared Edward II deposed. His son takes the Throne. Edward II is murdered nine months later.
In 1333 Edward III reclaimed Scotland defeating Bruces Son David. Later he attacked French territories declaring himself King of France and in doing so initiated the "100 year war".
The King had 2 strong sons in Edward, The Black Prince, and John of Gaunt. Both had notable victories in battle and both, advocated the power of Parliament. The King died in senility and the Crown passed to The Son of the Black Knight...
This was the inheritance of Richard II, who had to cope with post Black Death Britain and the Peasants Revolt of 1381.
In 1389 he negotiated a truce with Scotland and France and subdued Ireland. After the French King Charles VI went insane, Richard marries 7 year old Princess Issabella of France to assume "Absolute Rule" in 1399.
That's where it all goes pear shaped for the House of Plantagenet. John of Gaunt's son Henry deposes Richard and takes the title King Henry IV. The reign of the House of Lancaster begins with the murder of Richard II in the year 1400.

The excavation has revealed a foundation wall about a yard wide running for nearly 100 feet. However, due to the limited excavation permit, Alison disappointedly informed us that they didn't know if this is a side or end wall, but it was most certainly a very big and important building. The team have identified a kiln which would have been used for cooking, and large buttresses, testimony to the size and height of the building. They have also found the remains of 2 horses and various pieces of pottery which have aided in dating the find... Any theories to the use of the building would be purely speculative but first impressions might be that it was originally an Army Barracks or Official building for the governing Monarchy, but could be a Monks Dormitory or Bishops Palace. Other uses may have been be a school or Hospital. Available NOW. A collections of pictures of the excavation for those of you wanting to make your own conclusions and determinations >>> Story:aj@ge.m