The Lamb Hotel: Six Centuries of Coaching Inn Heritage

Medieval Origins and Early History

The Lamb Hotel occupies one of the most historically significant hospitality sites in Ely, with continuous operation as an inn stretching back over six centuries. The earliest documented evidence of an inn on this prime location dates to Bishop Fordham’s comprehensive survey of 1416-1417, which recorded the presence of a lodging house serving travellers to the cathedral city.

The strategic position at the corner of Lynn Road and High Street, just 100 yards from Ely Cathedral, made this site invaluable for medieval travellers. Ely’s unique geography as the Isle of Ely, surrounded by marshes and accessible only by raised causeways, meant that the city served as a crucial waystation for pilgrims, merchants, and officials travelling through the eastern counties.

During the Tudor period, the establishment was consistently known as ‘The Lamb’, a name that reflected the religious symbolism common to inn signs of the era. The lamb, representing the Lamb of God, was particularly appropriate for an inn serving visitors to one of England’s most magnificent cathedrals. Historical records from this period indicate that the inn provided not just accommodation but also served as a meeting place for local dignitaries, clerics, and travelling scholars.

The Golden Age of Coaching

The 18th and early 19th centuries marked the golden age of the Lamb Inn’s history, when it served as a vital link in England’s coaching network. Edmund Carter’s 1753 “History of the County of Cambridge” specifically mentioned the Lamb Inn as the departure point for the thrice-weekly coach service to Cambridge, highlighting its importance in the regional transport system.

The inn’s prominence during this period is perhaps best illustrated by the visit of John Byng, the famous travel writer, who stayed at the Lamb Inn on 5th July 1790 during his celebrated tour of the Midlands. Byng’s detailed diary entries provide valuable insights into the inn’s operations during the coaching era, describing the bustling activity that characterised daily life at this crucial transport hub.

By the peak of the coaching era, the Lamb Inn had expanded to accommodate the substantial demands of the London to King’s Lynn route. The Postmaster General’s surveyor John Cary documented that coaches regularly halted here, with the inn providing stabling for up to 30 horses and secure storage for coaches overnight. The inn’s facilities were extensive, including not just guest accommodation but also substantial storage areas for mail and parcels, making it an essential component of the eastern counties’ communication network.

The inn served travellers from all walks of life during this golden period. Merchants carrying goods between London and the eastern ports, government officials conducting business in the scattered towns of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, clergy travelling to and from cathedral duties, and ordinary folk seeking to traverse the often treacherous fenland routes all found refuge at the Lamb Inn.

Architectural Evolution

The current building that houses the Lamb Hotel was constructed between 1828 and 1829, representing a significant architectural upgrade from the earlier medieval and Tudor structures. This rebuilding coincided with the peak period of coaching travel, just before the railways would transform British transport forever.

The new building was designed specifically as a coaching house, incorporating all the latest innovations in inn architecture. The ground floor featured spacious public rooms suitable for dining and socialising, whilst the upper floors provided comfortable guest accommodation. The design reflected the growing sophistication of 19th-century travel, with larger windows, higher ceilings, and improved ventilation compared to earlier inn buildings.

The architectural style of the 1828-1829 construction represents a transitional period in English building design, incorporating both Georgian elegance and early Victorian practicality. The building’s Grade II listed status, awarded by Historic England, recognises its significance as an outstanding example of early 19th-century coaching inn architecture.

Photographic evidence from around 1910 shows the hotel maintaining its prominent position at the junction of what was then St Mary’s Street and Lynn Road. The image captures the building’s substantial façade and demonstrates how the Lamb had adapted to serve the motor age whilst retaining its historic character.

The Railway Era and Adaptation

The arrival of the railway at Ely in the 1840s marked the end of the coaching era but not the end of the Lamb Inn’s importance. Like many coaching inns across England, the Lamb had to adapt to changing transport patterns and evolving customer expectations.

The Great Eastern Railway’s development of Ely as a major junction station actually benefited the Lamb Inn, as it remained conveniently located for railway travellers seeking quality accommodation. The inn’s established reputation for hospitality and its prime location near the cathedral ensured its continued success even as horse-drawn coaches gave way to steam trains.

During the Victorian and Edwardian periods, the Lamb Inn evolved into a more conventional hotel, serving not just travellers but also local residents attending social functions, business meetings, and family celebrations. The building’s spacious public rooms made it an ideal venue for the kind of community gatherings that were central to Victorian social life.

Twentieth Century Transformation

The twentieth century brought further changes to the Lamb Hotel, as it adapted to serve tourists, business travellers, and local residents in an increasingly mobile society. The development of motor car tourism in the early decades of the century created new opportunities for the hotel, with motorists seeking comfortable overnight accommodation during their journeys.

The hotel’s proximity to Ely Cathedral continued to be a significant advantage, as the growth of heritage tourism brought increasing numbers of visitors to the city. The Lamb’s historic character and traditional hospitality made it a natural choice for tourists seeking an authentic experience of English hotel tradition.

By the latter part of the twentieth century, the Lamb Hotel had become firmly established as one of Ely’s most recognisable landmarks. Its acquisition by Greene King represented a new chapter in its long history, bringing modern amenities whilst carefully preserving the building’s historic character and traditional atmosphere.

Preserving Heritage in the Modern Era

Today’s Lamb Hotel represents a remarkable achievement in heritage preservation, maintaining its historic character whilst providing modern comfort and convenience. The current 37-room configuration reflects careful planning to maximise accommodation whilst respecting the building’s architectural integrity.

The hotel’s Grade II listing ensures that any modifications must respect the building’s historic significance. This has resulted in a unique blend of period features and contemporary amenities, allowing guests to experience the atmosphere of a traditional English inn whilst enjoying modern standards of comfort and service.

The preservation of the Lamb Hotel’s coaching inn heritage is particularly significant given the rapid disappearance of such establishments across England. Many historic inns have been demolished or so heavily modified that their original character has been lost. The Lamb stands as a testament to the possibility of maintaining historical authenticity whilst meeting contemporary hospitality standards.

Legacy and Continuing Tradition

The Lamb Hotel’s six-century history of continuous operation makes it one of England’s most enduring hospitality establishments. From its medieval origins serving cathedral pilgrims to its current role as a modern hotel welcoming tourists from around the world, the Lamb has consistently adapted to changing times whilst maintaining its essential character.

The hotel’s location remains as strategically important today as it was in medieval times. Visitors to Ely Cathedral, tourists exploring the city’s historic attractions, and business travellers attending meetings in the area all benefit from the Lamb’s convenient location and traditional hospitality.

Perhaps most remarkably, the Lamb Hotel continues to fulfil its original purpose of providing comfort and sustenance to travellers, just as it has done for over 600 years. This continuity of purpose, spanning from medieval pilgrims to modern tourists, represents one of the longest unbroken traditions of hospitality in England.

The stories contained within the Lamb Hotel’s walls reflect the broader sweep of English history, from medieval religious pilgrimage through the coaching era’s commercial expansion to the modern tourism age. Each generation of visitors has left their mark on this remarkable building, contributing to a living heritage that continues to evolve whilst remaining true to its historic origins.

The Lamb Hotel stands today not just as a place of accommodation, but as a tangible link to England’s hospitality heritage, a reminder of the important role that inns and hotels have played in the social and economic life of the nation for centuries.