A recent talk at the Ely Museum presentated results of the archeological work carried out so far for the team working on the south side of West Fen Road as you head out of Ely... The main points of the presentation were: Pre Cratendune Ely was quite large and to the West of the Bypass, remains from IronAge upto Cratendune times found in area of new reservoirs. NB Permission was granted for the reservoirs to be built in the next field north, however after permission was granted the builders decided that 'anywhere round there would do'. The Archeologists were already aware of the importance of the area, which is why permission further north was granted. The building site was moved, but not resubmitted to archeology. Cratendune dated up to early/middle saxon times - circa 4thC up to 6/7thC, is now believed to be at Brahms Farm along the A10 as predicted by Ely.org.uk last year. It is unlikely to be excavated however as archeological reports are only necessary when building development is planned. Everybody involved with the project agrees that Ely has "The largest and most important Middle Saxon settlement found in England within at least the last 100 years". The site of Saxon Ely covers an area enclosed by Cambridge Road, St Johns Road, Downham Road and the Bypass - all centred along the West Fen Road. At that time West Fen Road was the most important road in the Isle of Ely, and undoubtedly continued on into West Fen beyond Ely to a larger settlement. The church and graveyard for middle Saxon Ely has yet to be found, but is suspected to be in the St Johns Road area. Suddenly ( in under 50 years) inhabitants of Ely moved further East towards modern Ely - probably due to new church being built in the Priors Court area (the old one probably sacked by Danes) early western Ely left to decay - not burnt ! 9th - 10thC church built on the site of Ely Cathedral - now underneath it. Inhabitants still to the west. 11thC - 13thC After the arrival of the Normans and work on Ely Cathedral had started, Inhabitants move towards the current site of Ely Centre, but population switches to the river side of the Cathedral. Old sites are abandoned. 14thC onwards, river area gradually abandoned, and Ely is built on it's present site around the Cathedral. There will be several talks next year in Ely on the subject after the findings have been sorted more thoroughly - Over 250,000 pottery shards have been collected, and over 200,000 items of bone. There were some interesting slides shown by the chief archeologist who also imforms us that current digging work on south side of west fen road will start when the north side is caught up. Ask Zara Matthews who is the Curator of Ely Museum for further information. 01353 666655 Report - Dave Wolfe DCW@plextek.co.uk