THE SHIP OF THE FENS

Known as the Ship of the Fens, the Ely Cathedral Rose was introduced at the Chelsea Flower Show of 2018.

Bred by Michael Baldwin of Peter Beales Roses, is has lovely rose red flowers and is a modern shrub rose that was is lovely trailing around an obelisk. It grows to about 150cm tall and 120 wide.

Though the current cathedral at Ely dates from 1083, it origins can be traced back to 672 when St. Etheldreda built Ely Abbey. The current cathedral, which stands proudly looking over the small Cambridgeshire city and the surrounding countryside, has many outstanding features including a wonderful Norman west tower that at one time had transepts and was granted cathedral status in 1109.

At Queen Adelaide their church is dedicated to St Etheldreda, who was the daughter of King Anna, which was built in 1883-84. While at Histon there was also once two parish churches, the second being dedicated to her. It stood not far from Histon St Andrew's and was demolished about 1606 by Orlando Hynde, so that he could use some of the materials to extend his Madingley Hall home. Nothing today remains of the church at Histon which is now located on private land. While only a small part of the chapel dedicated to her at Reach remains today and can be found behind their current church.