Somerset's only city - and one of the smallest in England Wells, tucked beneath the southern slopes of the Menthp Hills.
Wells Cathedral
As well as a magnificent cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and wealth of secular attractions, Wells boasts a dynamic business and residential community.
There is a rich mixture of shops and facilities and it has a particularly wide-ranging industrial life for such a compact city.
The heart of Wells has been beating since the early Middle Ages and picked up pace in the 15th century when the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Thomas Beckington, commissioned many of the fine builthngs in the Market Place.
But Wells' history goes back much further man that. A late-Roman mausoleum was succeeded in the seventh century by a church, founded by the West Saxon King Ina. It was built beside some natural springs - the wells to which the city owes its name - stemming from an underground supply beneath the Menthp Hills.
In the Middle Ages, the cathedral - a direct descendent of King Ina's church - was enclosed and the wells are now within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace.
The Bishop's Palce Moat, Wells
However, the people were provided with fresh water thanks to good Bishop Beckington who gave the city a fresh, spring-sourced supply which still runs through the fountain in the Market Place and in the open channels running alongside the High Street.
The city was granted a Borough Charter by King John in 1205, and the enclosed cathedral area, the Liberty, remained free from civic juristhction until the 19th century.
The focus of people's activity, therefore, was the parish Church of St Cuthbert, around which the trade guilds operated, and Tucker Street where the wool workers lived.
Today, however, residents and visitors can wander around the moated Bishop's Palace on Wednesdays, Thursdays and bank holiday Mondays during the season - from Easter until the end of October.
The 13th to 15th century palace is the private residence of the Bishop and Bath and Wells. As well as the moat there are batdemented walls, lovely gardens with attractive trees - and the springs. Above the medieval Undercroft and next to the bishop's private chapel are imposing Victorian staterooms. Equally imposing in their own way are the ruins of the Great Banqueting Hall.
Wells, Somerset
The cathedral itself is a fine and very early example of English architecture, featuring a magnificent west front inverted nave arches,
splendid Chapter House and Lady Chapel and the oldest surviving mechanical clock, dating from around 1390.
Another record book attraction is Vicar's Close which, dating from the I4th century, is said to be the oldest complete street in Europe.
The Cathedral Church of St Andrew plays a pivotal role not only in the life of Wells but in that of the whole of Somerset. The county is justly proud of its cathedral and most residents will, at one time or another, make a pilgrimage to its religious services and musical events.
White Hart Hotel Wells, Somerset
Many visitors also make a bee-line for the wide variety of specialist and everyday shops in the city - and for Wells Museum, on the Cathedral Green, where the past and present are brought to life. Exhibits of particular interest include an exquisite collection of embroidery samplers which are of national importance.
The museum is based in the former Chancellor's House, facing the cathedral, and is open daily from Easter to September and every day except Mondays and Tuesdays in winter.
The Bishop's Palace is situated at the heart of the historic centre of Wells, adjacent to the Cathedral of St Andrew and the ancient market place (Wednesday and Saturday market days).
The site has been home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells since 1206 when Bishop Jocelin was first granted land by King John to build a residence and deer park The deer park, now Palace Fields can be viewed from the rampart walk
It has been described the 'most memorable of all Bishop's Palaces in England' (Pevsner) and it is easy to see why. Surrounded by gardens, outer battlements and a moat, it is a fairytale location in every sense of the word.
Once through die gatehouse, die magnificent 13th century palace lies across the croquet lawn with the ruins of Bishop Burnetts Great Hall to the south and Bishop Beckynton's 15 th century wing to the north.
Within the 14 acres of gardens the visitor will find St Andrew's Well, a tranquil pool containing four springs, which is reached across a willow bridge. These are the springs from which the city takes its name.
Mute swans ring a bell attached to the gatehouse for food. This practice stretches back over 150 years and to the delight today's visitors, the present pair continue the tradition, passing it on to their young.
The annual Wells Moat Boat Race Moat organised by the Wells Lions Club and Wells ATC is held in the Bishop's Palace moat.
The Bishops Palace Wells
Wells Cathedral |
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