ISLE OF ELY MIDI JOURNAL

This striking notebook design comes from the 1830 cover of James Benthamâs The History and Antiquities of the Conventual and Cathedral Church of Ely. Elyâs history begins with the Anglo-Saxon princess Saint Ethelreda, who founded a monastic community there in 673. Over the centuries, the original abbey was built, destroyed and rebuilt in various forms, with todayâs cathedral beginning construction in 1083. The Ely Cathedral underwent restorations between 1845 and 1870, rebuilding key sections in an exuberant Decorated Gothic style. With such a rich history, it is no wonder that the cathedral would inspire clergyman and antiquarian James Bentham to dedicate his lifeâs work to documenting its artifacts.