Wells
Wells is officially classed as a city because it has a
cathedral. With parts of it dating back to the
10th century, and with its fine fan vaulted ceilings, Lady Chapel and windows, and famous scissor arch of the west facade, make it one of the most beautiful in the country. It is one of the biggest Catherderals in the
southwest, and costs £2,500 a day to maintain. Together with the Bishop's Palace (still used by the bishop) Wells has been an ecclesiastical City of considerable importance for hundreds of years
The cathedral is notable for several unique features:
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West front - said to be the finest collection of statuary in Europe, containing 356 individual figures carved out of the cathedral's warm, yellow Doulting stone
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East end of the nave - an unusual scissored arch design of striking beauty, which saved the cathedral's central tower from collapse. In
1338, the original construction was found to be weakening underneath the tower and something had to be done to support it. About
1340, the Master Mason, William Joy, implemented his ingenious solution of the inverted arch to redistribute the weight on the foundations
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Chapter House - At the top of a flight of stone stairs, leading out from the north transept is the Chapter House, an octagonal building with a fan-vaulted ceiling. It is here that the business of running the cathedral is still done by the members of the Chapter, the cathedral's ruling body.
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Medieval Clock - facing the Canon's houses to the north, is a still-working medieval clock, originally intended to remind them of the many services conducted during the day at the cathedral
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The west front of Wells Cathedral |
The City was originally a
Roman settlement but only became an important centre under the
Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in
704. Two hundred years later, this became the seat of the local Bishop; but by
1091, this had been removed to
Bath. Causing severe arguments between the canons of Wells and the monks of Bath until finally the joint title of 'Bishop of Bath & Wells' to be elected by both houses was decided upon. Wells became a borough some time before 1160 when Bishop Robert granted its first charter. Fairs were granted to the City before
1160English Civil War
During the
English Civil War, Parliamentarian troops used the Cathedral to stable their horses and damaged much of the ornate sculpture by using it for firing practice.
William Penn is said to have passed through Wells shortly before leaving for
America, spending a night at The Crown Inn.
PoW Camp
During
World War II, Stoberry Park in Wells was the location of a Prisioner of War camp. Initially housing
Italian prisoners from the
Western Desert Campaign, and later German prisoners post the
Battle of NormandyRailways
At different times, Wells had three railway stations. The first station, Priory Street, opened in
1859 and was on the Somerset Central Railway (later the
Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway) as the terminus of a short branch from
Glastonbury. A second railway, the East Somerset, opened a branch line from
Witham in
1862 and built a station to the east of Priory Street. In
1870, a third railway, the Cheddar Valley line from
Yatton, reached Wells and built yet another station, later called Tucker Street. Matters were somewhat simplified when the
Great Western Railway acquired both the Cheddar Valley and the East Somerset lines and built a link between the two that ran through the S&DJR's Priory Street station. In
1878, when through trains began running between Yatton and Witham, the East Somerset station closed, but through trains did not stop at Priory Street until
1934.
Priory Street closed to passenger traffic in
1951 when the S&DJR branch line from Glastonbury was shut, though it remained the city's main goods depot. Tucker Street closed in
1963 under the Beeching Axe, which closed the Yatton to Witham line to passengers. Goods traffic to Wells ceased in
1964.
Following construction of the A39/A371 bypass, Wells has returned to being a pleasant market city situated at the foot of the Mendip Hills. It has all the modern conveniences plus charm, interesting shops, snug hotels and decent restaurants who recognise the value and are used to serving tourists
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The Cathedral rising behind the market place |
Wells is a popular tourist destination, due to having several historical sites and also its proximity to
Bath,
Stonehenge and other popular sites. Also located nearby is the
Wookey Hole cave system and the
Somerset Levels. Wells is also part of the
West Country Carnival circuit. Somerset cheese is made locally.
The real jewel of the city is the walled precinct enclosing twelfth century
Wells Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, Vicar's Close and the residences of the clergy who serve the cathedral:
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Bishops Palace - the medieval Palace has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The hall and chapel are particularly noteworthy, dating from the 14th century. There are 14 acres of gardens including the springs from which the city takes its name. Visitors can also see the Bishop's private Chapel, ruined Great Hall and the Gatehouse with portcullis and drawbridge beside which the famous mute swans ring a bell for food
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Vicars Close - the oldest existing street in the world, which still has the original cobblestoned surface
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Church of St. Cuthbert - often mistaken for the cathedral, the church has a fine Somerset stone tower and a superb carved roof. Originally an Early English building, it was much altered in the Perpendicular period
In literature
Elizabeth Goudge used Wells as a basis for the fictional Cathedral city of Torminster, in her book
City of BellsWells is a council in its own right, and sits in the Somerset district of
Mendip. Wells UK Parliamentary representative is traditionally Conservative, and is presently David Heathcoat Amory [
1]
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Wells Cathedral*
West Country Carnival*
Visitor attractions in Somerset*
Wells City Council*
BBC Somerset*
Official website of MP David Heathcoat Amory*
St Cuthberts church*
Bishops Palace*
Wells Millennium Tapestry*
Little Theatre site of the Wells Operatic Society
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Professional artistic photos of WellsAccommodation
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Stoberry Park*
Cannon Grange House*
Infield House B&BReferences
* Somerset Railway Stations, by Mike Oakley, (Dovecote Press, 2002)
