Ely cemetery was opened in 1855 at a cost of £3500. It originally covered 10.5 acres but later grew to 16 acres when more land was acquired. In 1856, twin mortuary chapels were built on the site, one for Church of England parishioners and one for the Nonconformists. Since its foundation, it is estimated that almost 16,000 burials have taken place in the cemetery. This includes 27 Commonwealth War Graves from the two World Wars and several graves of those who lost their lives in other conflicts, such as the Second Boer War.

The Friends of Ely Cemetery (FoEC) are a group of local volunteers who give their time to help with the upkeep of Ely Cemetery, tending to forgotten graves and researching the generations of people who were laid to rest there. Formed in 2019 and run under the auspices of the City of Ely Council, the FoEC is an associate member of the National Federation of Cemetery Friends. 

If you would like to get involved with the FoEC, we would love to hear from you! There are lots of ways you can help, including transcribing burial records and tending forgotten graves. Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can.