On the night of February 12 or 13, 1322, the central tower of Ely Cathedral collapsed, causing extensive damage to the crossing and nave. The collapse was a severe blow to the monastic community and necessitated a major rebuilding project. The new tower, completed in later decades, features the distinctive octagonal lantern that remains one of the cathedral's most celebrated architectural features.

The collapse and rebuilding of Ely Cathedral were recorded in monastic chronicles and Latin verses, which lamented the loss but also celebrated the resilience of the community. The event inspired a minor tradition of architectural poetry, where the cathedral's physical form was allegorized as a symbol of spiritual endurance. The octagonal lantern later became a subject of description in regional poetry and topographical verse.