Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1331690
- Date first listed:
- 23-Sept-1950
- List Entry Name:
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
- Statutory Address:
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-06-07
- Reference:
- IOE01/10789/28
- Rights:
- © Mr Alan Francis Polaine. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1331690
- Date first listed:
- 23-Sept-1950
- List Entry Name:
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
- Statutory Address 1:
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Cambridgeshire
- District:
- East Cambridgeshire (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Ely
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 54046 80281
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 12 November 2025 to amend details in the description and to reformat text to current standards
TL 5480 1/1
TL 5479 2/1
606/1/1
606/2/1A
CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
GV
I
23.9.50
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity was begun in 1083 by Simeon, a Kinsman of William the Conqueror and was virtually completed in its present form by 1350 after which no further major building took place. The nave and transepts have exceptionally fine C12 work, the chancel and west porch are C13 and the central crossing, lantern and the Lady Chapel are C14. The inner porch has some C15} work. Considerable restoration work was done by Sir Gilbert Scott in the mid C19. The Lady Chapel was begun in 1321 and a year later the Norman crossing tower fell. The Octagonal tower which replaced it was designed and built under the sacrsit Alan of Walsingham and the timber-framed lantern which crowns it was built under the direction of William Hurle, one of the most famous carpenters of his age and Chief Carpenter of the King's Works. The masonry of the Cathedral is almost entirely of ashlar faced Barnack limestone. The splendid architecture of the Cathedral and College is the dominating influence of the small scale, mainly C18 and C19 town which clusters closely around it.
The Cathedral of The Holy Trinity forms the focal point connecting the following four distinct groups of buildings collectively known as The College.
Group of the North:- The Almonry, Wall to the gardens of the Almonry and
Painted Chamber, the Sacristy Gate and Goldsmith's Tower.
Group to the South West:- The Great Hall (Bishop's residence), the Queen's Hall (Headmaster's House), Wall to the gardens of the Bishop's residence, Guest Quarters of the Monastery, Walls to the Guest Quarters of the Monastery and Ely Porta, Prior's House (Boarding House of The King's School), Prior Crauden's Chapel, Walls to the gardens of the Prior's House and Guest Hall, Ely Porta, Barn and Storehouse of the Monastery, Wall to the Barn and Storehouse of the Monastery.
Group to the South East:- The Dark Cloisterm Powcher's Hall, the Painted Chamber (Walsingham House) the Chapel of the Infirmary, the Black Hostelry and Cellarers Chamber, Cellarers House.
Group to the West:- Bishop's Palace, Walls of the Bishop's Palace.
Listing NGR: TL5404680281
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 48663
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jun-2026 at 14:33:32.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.