Cromwell was one of the governors of Thomas Parsons' Charity, which dates back to 1445 and was granted a Royal Charter by Charles I of England.
Oliver Cromwell je živel v Ely od 1636 - 1646 po tem, ko je dedoval nepremičnine iz 16. stoletja - danes Oliver Cromwell House, in položaj lokalnega pobiralca davkov od materinega brata, Sira Thomasa Stewarda.