Oliver Cromwell was once the most powerful man in the land. For five years, he was Lord Protector of England, leading the only republican government the nation has ever had. To some, he was a hero; to others, a villain. Either way, he was one of those people who make a brief appearance on history’s stage and leave their mark. So his house has got to be worth a visit. Cromwell inherited the lease from a rich uncle, moved there with his family in 1636 and they stayed for 10 years – though Cromwell himself would have been away for much of that time. It stands opposite a small green, next to St Mary’s Church. Since Cromwell lived there, it has been a pub, vicarage and at time of writing is Ely’s Tourist Information Centre. A tour of the house includes the fascinating kitchen, where we discover Cromwell was fond of eels, and his study, where he worked.
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