 Ely Place stands on land that had been the site of Ely Palace or Ely House, the London townhouse of the Bishops of Ely from 1290 to 1772.Land in the Holborn area was bought by John de Kirkby in 1280.He was appointed Bishop of Ely in 1286 and on his death in 1290, he left the estate to the see of Ely.