The district also included a detached area of land in the Fens, some 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the city, known as Witcham Gravel.

[3][4][5] After elections, the local board held its first meeting on 11 October 1850 at the Shire Hall on Lynn Road in Ely, which was also known as Sessions House and was primarily used as a courthouse.

The new county council chose to base itself in March, unlike the quarter sessions it replaced, which had met alternately at Wisbech and at the Shire Hall in Ely.

[10] After the war, the council converted the old fire station at 6 Lynn Road to become its offices and meeting place.

[15] The City of Ely Council was based at the Old Gaol at 4 Lynn Road until the mid 1990s, then at 72 Market Street.