Ely CathedralCambridgeshire

The Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral is one of the largest and most beautiful in England, dating back to 1083. Its intricate stonework and soaring windows create an ethereal atmosphere, though many of its original carvings were defaced during the reformation.

The lighting design, expertly crafted by CBG Consultants, enhances the architectural majesty of the cathedral while paying homage to its historical significance. The carefully positioned Fortis 3 fixtures provide even illumination, drawing attention to the biblical scenes depicted on the painted ceiling and throughout this historic gem of english heritage.

Product Overview

The Fortis 3 LED luminaire offers unparalleled performance, making it the perfect choice for prestigious heritage projects like Ely Cathedral. Its CRI 90+ ensures exceptional colour accuracy, bringing intricate artwork and architectural details to life. With customizable lengths and a sleek, low-profile design, it integrates seamlessly into any space. Precision-engineered optics provide uniform illumination, while flexible beam angle options enhance versatility. Available in a 2700K, 3000K & 4000K colour temperatures as standard, it’s ideal for heritage and architectural lighting. With dimming options including DALI, DMX & Casambi Bluetooth the Fortis 3 delivers energy-efficient, controllable, and premium lighting solutions for even the most demanding applications.

Kemps Architectural Lighting are proud to have contributed to the stunning transformation of Ely Cathedral’s iconic nave ceiling. We supplied some 200 metres of our Fortis 3 linear LED fixtures, delivering a high-quality lighting solution with 90 CRI 3000K LEDs. This precise color rendering beautifully highlights the intricate details and vibrant colours of the ceiling, originally painted between 1858 and 1862 by Henry Styleman Le Strange and completed by Thomas Gambier Parry. Throughout the church there are many more Fortis 3 fixtures highlighting arches and niches with subtle light to create an unforgettable visual experience.

This project exemplifies our commitment to delivering innovative lighting solutions for heritage sites, bringing historic art and architecture to life for generations to come.

Photography by James Newton

As the MD of Kemps Architectural Lighting, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results of our work on Ely Cathedral. It’s an honor to illuminate such a cherished icon of English history. The collaboration with CBG Consultants and the use of our Fortis 3 linear LED fixtures has truly brought the vibrant, historic artwork and architecture to life. This project showcases the power of lighting to enhance and celebrate our architectural heritage

Mark Kemp, Managing Director, Kemps Architectural Lighting