Wells Cathedral is a Church of England place of worship in Wells,Somerset, dedicated to St

Andrew the Apostle, and is the seat of theBishop of Bath and Wells. As with
other cathedrals, it is the mother church of the diocese and contains the bishop's throne
(cathedra). he present building dates from !!"# to !$%&, an earlier church ha'ing been
built on the site in "&#. (t is moderatel) si*ed among the medie'al cathedrals of England,
falling between those of massi'e proportion, such as +incoln and ,or-, and the much smaller
cathedrals of ./ford andCarlisle. With its broad west front and large central tower, it is the
dominant feature of its small cathedral cit) and a landmar- in the Somerset countr)side.
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Wells has been 'ariousl) described as 2un3uestionabl) one of the most beautiful2
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and
as 2the most poetic2 of English cathedrals.
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he architecture of the cathedral presents a harmonious whole which is entirel) 5othic and
mostl) in a single st)le, the Earl) English 5othic of the late !4th and earl) !6th centuries. (n
this Wells differs from most other English medie'al cathedrals, which ha'e parts in the
earlier 7omanes3uearchitectural st)le introduced to Britain b) the 8ormans in the !!th
centur).
Wor- on the cathedral commenced in about !!"# at the eastern end with the building of
the choir. he historian 9ohn :ar'e) considers this to be the first trul) 5othic structure in
Europe, ha'ing bro-en from the last constraints of 7omanes3ue.
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he stonewor- of its
pointed arcades and fluted piers is enriched b) the comple/it) of the pronounced mouldings
and 'italit) of the car'ed capitals in a foliate st)le -nown as 2stiff leaf2.
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he e/terior has an
Earl) English fa;ade displa)ing more than three hundred sculpted figures,
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and described
b) :ar'e) as 2the supreme triumph of the combined plastic arts in England2.
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he eastern
end retains much ancient stained glass, which is rare in England.
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<nli-e the man) English cathedrals of monastic foundation, Wells has an e/ceptional
number of sur'i'ing secular buildings associated with its chapter of secular canons, such as
the Bishop's =alace and the >icars' Close, a residential street which has remained intact
from the !#th centur).
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he cathedral is a scheduled monument and is designated
b)English :eritage as a 5rade ( listed building.
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Contents
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! :istor)
o !.! Earl) )ears
o !.4 Seat of the bishop
o !.6 Building the cathedral
o !.$ udors and Ci'il War
o !.# !??&@!A&&
o !.? >ictorian era to present
4 Binistr)
6 Architecture
o 6.! Cates, st)les and architects
o 6.4 =lan
o 6.6 Ele'ation
o 6.$ E/terior
o 6.# (nterior
$ Artwor-s and treasures
o $.! Stained glass
o $.4 Car'ings
o $.6 Dittings and monuments
o $.$ Cloc-
# Busic
o #.! .rgan and organists
o #.4 Cathedral Choir
o #.6 >oluntar) Choir
? Bells
" +ibrar)
o ".! .riginal records
A En'irons and associated buildings
% (n the arts and popular culture
!& See also
!! 7eferences
!4 E/ternal lin-s
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
he earliest remains of a building on the site are of a late 7oman mausoleum, identified
during e/ca'ations in !%A&.
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An abbe) church was built in Wells in "&# b) Aldhelm, first
bishop of the newl) established Ciocese of Sherborne during the reign of Eing (ne of
Wesse/.
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(t was dedicated to Saint Andrew and stood at the present site of the
cathedral's cloisters, where some e/ca'ated remains can be seen. he baptismal font in the
cathedral's south transept is from this church and is the oldest part of the present building.
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(n "?? C)newulf, Eing of Wesse/, signed a charter endowing the church with
ele'en hides of land.
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(n %&% the seat of the diocese was mo'ed from Sherborne to
Wells.
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he first Bishop of Wells was Athelm (%&%), who crowned Eing Fthelstan. Athelm and his
nephew Cunstan both becameArchbishops of Canterbur).
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Curing this period a choir of
bo)s was established to sing the liturg). Wells Cathedral Schooldates its foundation to this
point.
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Dollowing the 8orman Con3uest, Bishop 9ohn de >illula mo'ed the seat of the
bishop from Wells to Bath in !&%&.
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he church at Wells, no longer a cathedral, had a
college of secular clerg).
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Seat of the bishop[edit]
he cathedral is thought to ha'e been concei'ed and commenced in about !!"# b)
Bishop 7eginald Dit* 9ocelin, who died in !!%!.
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Although it is clear from its si*e that,
from the outset, the church was planned to be the cathedral of the diocese,
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the seat of the
bishop mo'ed between Wells and the abbe)s of 5lastonbur) and Bath, before settling at
Wells. (n !!%" Bishop 7eginald's successor, Bishop Sa'aric Dit*5eldewin, with the appro'al
of =ope Celestine (((, officiall) mo'ed his seat to 5lastonbur) Abbe). he title of Bishop of
Bath and 5lastonbur) was used until the 5lastonbur) claim was abandoned in !4!%.
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Bishop Sa'aric's successor, 9ocelin of Wells, again mo'ed the bishop's seat to Bath Abbe),
with the title Bishop of Bath. 9ocelin was a brother of Bishop :ugh (( of +incoln
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and was
present at the signing of the Bagna Carta. Bishop 9ocelin continued the building campaign
begun b) Bishop 7eginald and was responsible for the Bishop's =alace, the choristers'
school, a grammar school, a hospital for tra'ellers and a chapel. :e also had a manor house
built at Woo-e), near Wells.
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9ocelin saw the church dedicated in !46% but, despite much
lobb)ing of the pope b) 9ocelin's representati'es in 7ome, did not li'e to see cathedral
status granted. he dela) ma) ha'e been a result of inaction b) =andulf Basca, a 7oman
ecclesiastical politician, papal legate to England and Bishop of 8orwich, who was as-ed b)
the pope to in'estigate the situation but did not respond.
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9ocelin died at Wells on !%
8o'ember !4$4 and was buried in the choir of the cathedralG
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the memorial brass on
his tomb is one of the earliest brasses in England.
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Dollowing his death the mon-s of Bath
unsuccessfull) attempted to regain authorit) o'er Wells.
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(n !4$# the ongoing dispute o'er the title of the bishop was resol'ed b) a ruling of =ope
(nnocent (> who established the title as the 2Bishop of Bath and Wells2, as it has remained
until this da), with Wells as the principal seat of the bishop.
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Since the !!th centur) the
church has had a chapter of secular clerg), li-e the cathedrals
of Chichester, :ereford, +incoln and,or-. he chapter was endowed with twent)H
two prebends (lands from which finance was drawn) and a pro'ost to manage them. .n
ac3uiring cathedral status, in common with other such cathedrals, it had four chief clerg),
the dean, precentor,chancellor and sacristan, who were responsible for the spiritual and
material care of the cathedral.
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Wells Cathedral and its environs
Wells Cathedral in the Somerset countr)side
Drom the gardens of the Bishop's =alace (Cecember 4&!6)
he Bishop's =alace built b) Bishop 7alph of Shrewsbur)
Aerial 'iew of the cathedral and the >icars' Close (lower left of picture)
Building the cathedral[edit]
he building program, begun b) Bishop 7eginald Dit* 9ocelin in the !4th centur), continued
under 9ocelin of Wells, who was a canon from !4&&, then bishop from !4&?. Adam +oc-e
was master mason from about !!%4 until !46&.
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(t was designed in the new st)le with
pointed arches, later -nown as 5othic, and which was introduced at about the same time
at Canterbur) Cathedral.
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Wor- was halted between !4&% and !4!6 when Eing
9ohn was e/communicated and Bishop 9ocelin was in e/ile,
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but the main parts of the
church were complete b) the time of the dedication b) Bishop 9ocelin in !46%.
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B) the time the cathedral, including the chapter house, was finished in !6&?,
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it was alread)
too small for the de'eloping liturg), and unable to accommodate increasingl) grand
processions of clerg). Bishop 9ohn Cro/ford initiated another phase of building under master
mason homas of Whitne),
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during which the central tower was heightened and an eightH
sided+ad) chapel, completed b) !64?, was added at the east end.
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Bishop 7alph of
Shrewsbur) followed, continuing the eastward e/tension of the choir and retrochoir be)ond.
:e o'ersaw the building of >icars' Close and the >icars' :all, to gi'e the men who were
emplo)ed to sing in the choir a secure place to li'e and dine, awa) from the town and its
temptations.
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:e had an uneas) relationship with the citi*ens of Wells, partl) because of his
imposition of ta/es,
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and he surrounded his palace with crenellated walls, a moat and a
drawbridge.
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Bishop 9ohn :arewell raised mone) for the completion of the west front b) William W)nford,
who was appointed as master mason in !6?#. .ne of the foremost architects of his time,
W)nford wor-ed for the -ing at Windsor, Winchester Cathedraland 8ew College, ./ford.
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At Wells, he designed the western towers of which northHwest was not built until the
following centur).
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(n the !$th centur), the central piers of the crossing were found to be
sin-ing under the weight of the crossing tower which had been damaged b) an earth3ua-e
the pre'ious centur).
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Strainer arches, sometimes described as scissor arches, were
inserted b) master mason William 9o) to brace and stabilise the piers as a unit.
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Tudors and Civil War[edit]
B) the reign of :enr) >(( the cathedral building was complete, appearing much as it does
toda) (though the fittings ha'e changed considerabl)). Drom !#&A to !#$?, the eminent
(talian humanist scholar =ol)dore >ergil was acti'e as the chapter's representati'e in
+ondon. :e donated a set of hangings for the choir of the cathedral.
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While Wells
sur'i'ed theCissolution of the Bonasteries better than those cathedrals of monastic
foundation, the abolition of chantries in !#$" resulted in a reduction in the cathedral's
income. Bedie'al brasses were sold, and a pulpit was placed in the na'e for the first time.
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Between !##! and !#?A, in two periods as dean, William urner established an herbal
garden, which was recreated between 4&&6 and 4&!&.
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Eli*abeth ( ga'e the chapter and the >icars Choral a new charter in !#%!, creating a new
go'erning bod), consisting of the dean and eight residentiar) canons with control o'er the
church estates and authorit) o'er its affairs, but no longer entitled to elect the dean (that
entitlement thenceforward belonged ultimatel) to the Crown).
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he stabilit) brought b) the
new charter ended with the onset of the Ci'il War and the e/ecution of Charles (. +ocal
fighting damaged the cathedral's stonewor-, furniture and windows. he dean, Walter
7aleigh, a nephew of the e/plorer Sir Walter 7aleigh, was placed under house arrest after
the fall of Bridgwater to the =arliamentarians in !?$#, first in the rector) at Ched*o) and then
in the deaner) at Wells.
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:is Iailer, the shoe ma-er and cit) constable, Ca'id Barrett,
caught him writing a letter to his wife. When he refused to surrender it, Barrett ran him
through with a sword and he died si/ wee-s later, on !& .ctober !?$?.
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:e was buried in
an unmar-ed gra'e in the choir before the dean's stall.
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Curing the Commonwealth of
England under .li'er Cromwell no dean was appointed and the cathedral fell into disrepair.
he then bishop went into retirement and some of the clerics were reduced to performing
menial tas-s.
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16601!00[edit]
(n !??!, after Charles (( was restored to the throne, 7obert Creighton, who had ser'ed as
the -ing's chaplain in e/ile, was appointed dean and then ser'ed as the bishop for two )ears
before his death in !?"4.
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:is brass lectern, gi'en in than-sgi'ing, can be seen in the
cathedral. :e also donated the great west window of the na'e at a cost of J!$&. Dollowing
Creighton's appointment as bishop, 7alph Bathurst, who had been chaplain to the -ing,
president of rinit) College, ./fordand fellow of the 7o)al Societ),
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became dean. Curing
Bathurst's long tenure the cathedral was restored, howe'er in theBonmouth 7ebellion of
!?A#, =uritan soldiers damaged the west front, tore lead from the roof to ma-e bullets, bro-e
the windows, smashed the organ and furnishings, and for a time stabled their horses in the
na'e.
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7estoration began again under Bishop homas Een who was appointed b) the Crown in
!?A# and ser'ed until !?%!. :e was one of se'en bishops imprisoned for refusing to
sign Eing 9ames (('s 2Ceclaration of (ndulgence2, which would ha'e enabled Catholics to
resume positions of political power, but popular support led to their ac3uittal. Een refused to
ta-e the oath of allegiance to William and Bar) because 9ames (( had not abdicated and with
others, -nown as the 8onIurors, was put out of office.
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:is successor, Bishop Eidder, was
-illed in the 5reat Storm of !"&6 when two chimne) stac-s on the palace fell on him and his
wife, while the) were asleep in bed.
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he baptismal font from the Sa/on church of Bishop Aldhelm (c. "&#) predates the cathedral b) more than
$&& )ears.
he !6thHcentur) west front was 'andalised during the Bonmouth 7ebellion, destro)ing man) of the car'ed
figures and lea'ing others, li-e those of the Coronation of the Virgin, headless.
he choir stalls ha'e !%thHcentur) stone canopies and modern embroideries commemorating bishops. he
!%th centur) saw the restoration of the building and its fittings.
A recent sculpture, The Weight of our Sins, b) 9osefina de >asconcellos in the grounds of the Bishop's
=alace
"ictorian era to present[edit]
B) the middle of the !%th centur), a maIor restoration programme was needed. <nder Cean
5oodenough, the monuments were mo'ed to the cloisters and the remaining medie'al paint
and whitewash was remo'ed in an operation -nown as 2the great scrape2.
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Anthon)
Sal'in too- charge of the e/tensi'e restoration of the choir. Wooden galleries that had been
installed in the !?th centur) were remo'ed and the stalls were gi'en stone canopies and
placed further bac- within the line of the arcade. he medie'al stone pulpitum screen was
e/tended in the centre to support a new organ.
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he late 4&th centur) saw an e/tensi'e restoration programme, particularl) of the west front.
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he stained glass is currentl) under restoration, with a programme underwa) to
conser'e the large !$thHcentur) 9esse ree window at the eastern terminal of the choir.
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Ministry[edit]
Since the !6th centur) Wells Cathedral has been the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
(ts go'erning bod), the chapter, is made up of fi'e clerical canons (the dean, the precentor,
the canon chancellor, the canon treasurer, and the archdeacon of Wells) and four la)
membersK the administrator (chief e/ecuti'e), Eeeper of the Dabric, .'erseer of the Estate
and the chairman of the cathedral shop and catering boards.
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he most recent Bishop of
Bath and Wells was =eter =rice, who was appointed in 4&&! and retired on 6& 9une 4&!6.
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he present dean is 9ohn Clar-e.
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Emplo)ed staff include the organist and master of choristers, head 'irger, archi'ist, librarian
and the staff of the shop, cafL and restaurant.
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he chapter is ad'ised b) specialists such
as architects, archaeologists and financial e/perts.
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Bore than a thousand ser'ices are held each )ear. here are dail) ser'ices of Batins, :ol)
Communion and Choral E'ensong,
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as well as maIor celebrations of Christian festi'als
such as Christmas, Easter, =entecost and saints' da)s.
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he cathedral is also used for the
baptisms, weddings and funerals of those with close connections to it.
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(n 9ul) 4&&% the
cathedral hosted the funeral of :arr) =atch, the last British Arm) 'eteran of World War (,
who died at the age of !!!.
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hree Sunda) ser'ices are led b) the resident choir (during the school terms) and choral
ser'ices are sung on wee-da)s. he cathedral hosts 'isiting choirs and is in'ol'ed in
outreach wor- with local schools as part of its Chorister .utreach =roIect.
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he cathedral is
also the 'enue for musical e'ents such as an annual concert b) the Somerset Chamber
Choir.
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Each )ear appro/imatel) !#&,&&& people attend ser'ices and another 6&&,&&& 'isit as
tourists.
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Entr) is free, but 'isitors are encouraged to ma-e a donation towards the annual
running costs which were around J4 million (appro/. <SM6.6 million) in 4&!&.
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Architecture[edit]
#ates$ styles and architects[edit]
!. West front 4. 8a'e 6. Central tower $. Choir #. 7etrochoir ?. +ad) Chapel ". Aisle A. ransept %. East
transept !&. 8orth porch !!. Chapter house !4. Cloister
(adapted from a plan b) 5eorg Cehio)
Construction of the cathedral began in about !!"#, to the design of an un-nown architect.
Wells is the first cathedral in England to be, from its foundation, built in the 5othic st)le.
According to art historian 9ohn :ar'e), it is the first trul) 5othic cathedral in the world, its
architects ha'ing entirel) dispensed with all the features that bound the contemporar) east
end of Canterbur) Cathedral and the earlier buildings of Drance, such as the east end of
the Abbe) of Saint Cenis, to the 7omanes3ue.
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<nli-e these churches, Wells has clustered
piers rather than columns and has a galler) of identical pointed arches rather than the
t)picall) 7omanes3ue form of paired openings. he st)le, with its simple untraceried lancet
arches and con'oluted mouldings, is -nown as Earl) English 5othic.
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Drom about !!%4 to !46&, Adam +oc-, the earliest architect at Wells for whom a name is
-nown, continued the transept and na'e in the same manner as his predecessor. +oc- was
also builder of the north porch, to his own design.
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he Earl) English west front was commenced around !46& b) homas 8orre)s, with
building and sculpture continuing for thirt) )ears.
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(ts southHwest tower was begun !&&
)ears later and constructed between !6?# and !6%#, and the northHwest tower between
!$4# and !$6#,
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both in the =erpendicular 5othic st)le to the design of William
W)nford,
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who also filled man) of the cathedral's earl) English lancet windows with
delicate tracer).
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Between !4"# and !6!& the undercroftand chapterhouse were built b)
un-nown architects, the undercroft in the Earl) English and the chapter house in the
5eometric st)le of Cecorated 5othic architecture. (n about !6!& wor- commenced on the
+ad) Chapel, to the design of homas Witne), who also built the central tower from !6!# to
!644 in the Cecorated 5othic st)le.
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he tower was later braced internall) with arches b)
William 9o).
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Concurrent with this wor-, in !64%@$# 9o) made alterations and e/tensions to
the choir, Ioining it to the +ad) Chapel with the retrochoir, the latter in the Dlowing
Cecorated st)le.
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+ater changes include the =erpendicular 'ault of the tower and construction of Sugar's
Chapel, !$"#@%& b) William Sm)th. Also, 5othic 7e'i'al reno'ations were made to the choir
and pulpitum b) BenIamin Derre) and Anthon) Sal'in, !A$4@#".
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%lan[edit]
Wells has a total length of $!# feet (!4? m). (n common with Canterbur), +incoln
and Salisbur) cathedrals, it has the distinctl) English arrangement of two transepts, with the
bod) of the church di'ided into distinct partsK na'e, choir, and retrochoir, be)ond which
e/tends the +ad) Chapel.
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he fa;ade is wide, with its towers e/tending be)ond the
transepts on either side.
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here is a large proIecting porch on the north side of the na'e
forming an entr) into the cathedral.
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o the northHeast is the large octagonal chapter house,
entered from the north choir aisle b) a passage and staircase. o the south of the na'e is a
large cloister, unusual in that the northern range, that adIacent the cathedral, was ne'er built.
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Elevation[edit]
(n section, the cathedral has the usual arrangement of a large churchK a central na'e with an
aisle on each side, separated b) two arcades. he ele'ation is in three
stages, arcade, triforium galler) and clerestor).
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he na'e is ?" feet (4& m) in height, 'er)
low compared to the 5othic cathedrals of Drance.
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(t has a mar-edl) hori*ontal emphasis,
caused b) the triforium ha'ing a uni3ue form, a series of identical narrow openings, lac-ing
the usual definition of the ba)s. he triforium is separated from the arcade b) a single
hori*ontal string course that runs unbro-en the length of the na'e. here are no 'ertical lines
lin-ing the three stages, as the shafts supporting the 'ault rise abo'e the triforium.
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he cathedral from the south east. o the right of the central tower is the choir with the +ad) Chapel
proIecting be)ond it, and the chapter house, e/treme right.
he central tower, na'e and south transept seen from the cloister garth. he na'e rises abo'e the pitched
roof of the aisle. he buttresses are of low profile.
he internal ele'ation of the na'e is in three le'elsK arcade, triforium galler) and clerestor). he triforium has
a uni3ue form with the arches not di'ided into ba)s.
E&terior[edit]
he e/terior of Wells Cathedral presents a relati'el) tid) and harmonious appearance since
the greater part of the building was e/ecuted in a single st)le, Earl) English 5othic. his is
uncommon among English cathedrals where the e/terior usuall) e/hibits a plethora of st)les.
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At Wells, later changes in the =erpendicular st)le were uni'ersall) applied, such as filling
the Earl) English lancet windows with simple tracer), the construction of a parapet that
encircles the roof, and the addition ofpinnacles framing each gable, similar to those around
the chapter house and on the west front.
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At the eastern end there is a proliferation of
tracer) with repeated motifs in the 7eticulated st)le, a stage between 5eometric and Dlowing
Cecorated tracer).
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West front[edit]
he west front is !&& feet (6& m) high and !$" feet ($# m) wide,
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and built of (nferior
.olite of the Biddle 9urassic period, which came from the Coulting Stone Nuarr), about A
miles (!6 -m) to the east.
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According to the architectural historianAlec CliftonHa)lor, it is
2one of the great sights of England2.
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West fronts in general ta-e three distinct formsK those that follow the ele'ation of the na'e
and aisles, those that ha'e paired towers at the end of each aisle, framing the na'e, and
those that screen the form of the building. he west front at Wells has the pairedHtower form,
unusual in that the towers do not indicate the location of the aisles, but e/tend well be)ond
them, screening the dimensions and profile of the building.
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he west front rises in three distinct stages, each clearl) defined b) a hori*ontal course. his
hori*ontal emphasis is counteracted b) si/ strongl) proIecting buttresses defining the crossH
sectional di'isions of na'e, aisles and towers, and are highl) decorated, each ha'ing
canopied niches containing the largest statues on the fa;ade.
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At the lowest le'el of the fa;ade is a plain base, contrasting with and stabilising the ornate
arcades that rise abo'e it.
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he base is penetrated b) three doors, which are in star-
contrast to the often imposing portals of Drench 5othic cathedrals. he outer two are of
domestic proportion and the central door is ornamented onl) b) a central post, 3uatrefoil and
the fine mouldings of the arch.
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Abo'e the basement rise two store)s, ornamented with 3uatrefoils and niches originall)
holding about four hundred statues, with three hundred sur'i'ing until the midH4&th centur).
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Since then, some ha'e been restored or replaced, including the ruined figure of Christ in
the gable.
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he third stages of the flan-ing towers were both built in the =erpendicular st)le of the late
!$th centur), to the design of William W)nfordG that on the northHwest was not begun until
about !$4#.
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he design maintains the general proportions, and continues the strong
proIection of the buttresses.
he finished product has been criticised for its lac- of pinnacles, and it is probable that the
towers were intended to carr) spires which were ne'er built.
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Cespite its lac- of spires or
pinnacles, the architectural historian Banister Dletcherdescribes it as 2the highest
de'elopment in English 5othic of this t)pe of facade.2
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he !6thHcentur) west front b) homas 8orre)s. As a s)nthesis of form, architectural decoration and
figurati'e sculpture it is considered to be unsurpassed in Britain.
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Christ the Judge, (late 4&thHcentur)) occupies the gable. Beneath are twel'e apostles and nine archangels.
he strongl) proIecting buttresses ha'e niches for statues.
'conography of the (est front[edit]
he sculptures on the west front at Wells include standing figures, seated figures, halfHlength
angels and narrati'es in high relief. Ban) of the figures are lifeHsi*ed or larger, and together
the) constitute the finest displa) of medie'al car'ing in England.
0!&1
he figures and man) of
the architectural details were painted in bright colours, and the colouring scheme has been
deduced from fla-es of paint still adhering to some surfaces.
0!&1
he sculptures occup) nine
architectural *ones stretching hori*ontall) across the entire west front and around the sides
and the eastern returns of the towers which e/tend be)ond the aisles. he strongl)
proIecting buttresses ha'e tiers of niches which contain man) of the largest figures. .ther
large figures, including that of Christ, occup) the gable. A single figure stands in one of two
later niches high on the northern tower.
(n !A#! the archaeologist Charles 7obert Coc-erell published his anal)sis of the
iconograph), numbering the nine sculptural di'isions from the lowest to the highest. :e
defined the theme as 2a calendar for unlearned men2 illustrating the doctrines and histor) of
the Christian faith, its introduction to Britain and its protection b) princes and bishops.
0%?1
:e
li-ens the arrangement and iconograph) to the e Ceum.
0%"1
According to Coc-erell, the side of the facade that is to the south of the central door is the
more sacred and the scheme is di'ided accordingl).
0%A1
he lowest range of niches each
contained a standing figure, of which all but four figures on the west front, two on each side,
ha'e been destro)ed. Bore ha'e sur'i'ed on the northern and eastern sides of the north
tower. Coc-erell speculates that those to the south of the portal represented prophets and
patriarchs of the .ld estamentwhile those to the north represented earl) missionaries to
Britain, of which Augustine of Canterbur), St Birinus, and Benedict Biscop are identifiable b)
their attributes.
0%%1
(n the second *one, abo'e each pair of standing figures, is a 3uatrefoil
containing a halfHlength angel in relief, some of which ha'e sur'i'ed.
0!&&1
Between the gables
of the niches are 3uatrefoils that contain a series of narrati'es from the Bible, with the .ld
estament stories to the south, abo'e the prophets and patriarchs, and those from the 8ew
estament to the north.
0!&!1
A hori*ontal course runs around the west front di'iding the
architectural store)s at this point.
Abo'e the course, *ones four and fi'e, as identified b) Coc-erell, contain figures which
represent the Christian Church in Britain, with the spiritual lords such as bishops, abbots,
abbesses and saintl) founders of monasteries on the south, while -ings, 3ueens and princes
occup) the north.
0!&41
Ban) of the figures sur'i'e and man) ha'e been identified in the light of
their 'arious attributes. here is a hierarch) of si*e, with the more significant figures larger
and enthroned in their niches rather than standing.
0!&61
(mmediatel) beneath the upper course
are a series of small niches containing d)namic sculptures of the dead coming forth from
their tombs on the Ca) of 9udgement. Although na-ed, some of the dead are defined as
ro)alt) b) their crowns and others as bishops b) their mitres. Some emerge from their
gra'es with Io) and hope, and others with despair.
0!&$1
he niches in the lowest *one of the gable contain nine angels, of which Coc-erell identifies
Bichael, 5abriel, 7aphael and <riel.
0!&#1
(n the ne/t *one are the taller figures of the twel'e
apostles, some, such as 9ohn, Andrew and Bartholomew, clearl) identifiable b) the attributes
that the) carr).
0!&?1
he uppermost niches of the gable contained the figure of Christ the
9udge at the centre, with the >irgin Bar) on his right and 9ohn the Baptist on his left. he
figures all suffered fromiconoclasm.
0!&?1
A new statue of 9esus was car'ed for the central
niche, but the two side niches now contain cherubim. Christ and the >irgin Bar) are also
represented b) now headless figures in a Coronation of the >irgin in a niche abo'e the
central portal. A damaged figure of the >irgin and Christ Child occupies a 3uatrefoil in
the spandrel of the door.
0!&"1
(n the lowest range, man) statues are lost but this group of saints remains at the bac- of the north tower.
here is a sculpture of the >irgin and Christ Child abo'e the west door.
A galler) of ro)alt) fills the niches of the north west buttresses, with clerics on the south west.
Crossing to(er[edit]
he central tower appears to date from the earl) !6th centur). (t was substantiall)
reconstructed in the earl) !$th centur) during the remodelling of the east end, necessitating
the internal bracing of the piers a decade or so later. (n the !$th centur) the tower was gi'en
a timber and lead spire which burnt down in !$6%. he e/terior was then rewor-ed in the
=erpendicular st)le and gi'en the present parapet and pinnacles.
04?1
Alec CliftonHa)lor
describes it as 2outstanding e'en in Somerset, a count) famed for the splendour of its church
towers2.
0!41
)orth porch[edit]
he north porch is described b) art historian 8i-olaus =e'sner as 2sumptuousl) decorated2,
and intended to be the main entrance.
0A?1
E/ternall) it is simple and rectangular with plain
side walls. he entrance is a steepl) arched portal framed b) rich mouldings of eight shafts
with stiffHleaf capitals each encircled b) an annular moulding at middle height. hose on the
left are figurati'e, containing images representing the mart)rdom of St Edmund the Bart)r.
0A?1
he walls are lined with deep niches framed b) narrow shafts with capitals and annulets
li-e those of the portal.
Cloisters[edit]
he cloisters were built in the late !6th centur) and largel) rebuilt from !$6& to !#&A
04?106A1
and
ha'e wide openings di'ided b) mullions and transoms, and tracer) in the =erpendicular
5othic st)le. he 'ault has lierne ribs that form octagons at the centre of each compartment,
the Ioints of each rib ha'ing decorati'e bosses.
0!&A1
he eastern range is of two store)s, of
which the upper is the librar) built in the !#th centur).
04?1
Because Wells Cathedral was secular rather than monastic, cloisters were not a practical
necessit). he) were omitted from se'eral other secular cathedrals but were built here and
at Chichester. E/planations for their construction at these two secular cathedrals range from
the processional to the aesthetic.
0A"1
As at Chichester, there is no northern range to the
cloisters. (n monastic cloisters it was the north range, benefiting most from winter sunlight,
that was often used as ascriptorium.
0!&%1
he north transept with its Bedie'al cloc- face, the north porch and northHwest tower
he portal of the north porch has comple/ mouldings with sprouting foliage in the rebates.
>iew along the cloister showing the lierne 'ault
he cloisters, built in se'eral stages, ha'e =erpendicular tracer).
*estoration[edit]
(n !%?%, when a large chun- of stone fell from a statue near the main door, it became
apparent that there was an urgent need for restoration of the west front.
0?%1
Cetailed studies of
the stonewor- and of conser'ation practices were underta-en under the cathedral architect,
Alban C. 7. Caroe and a restoration committee formed.
0%$1
he methods that were selected
for conser'ation were those de'ised b) E'e and 7obert Ba-er. W. A. (Bert) Wheeler, cler- of
wor-s to the cathedral !%6#@!%"A, had pre'iousl) e/perimented with washing and surfaceH
treatment of architectural car'ings on the building and his techni3ues were among those
tried on the statues.
0%$1
he conser'ation was carried out between !%"$ and !%A?, where'er possible using nonH
in'asi'e procedures such as washing with water and a solution of lime, filling gaps and
damaged surfaces with soft mortar to pre'ent the ingress of water and stabilising statues
that were fracturing because of the corrosion of metal dowels. he surfaces were finished b)
painting with a thin coat of mortar and silane to resist further erosion and attac- b) pollutants.
0?%10%$1
he restoration of the fa;ade re'ealed much paint adhering to the statues and their
niches, indicating that it had once been brightl) coloured.
0?%1
'nterior[edit]
Choir$ transept and nave[edit]
he particular character of this Earl) English interior is dependent on the proportions of the
simple lancet arches. (t is also dependent on the refinement of the architectural details, in
particular the mouldings.
he arcade, which ta-es the same form in the na'e, choir and transepts, is distinguished b)
the richness of both mouldings and car'ings. Each pier of the arcade has a surface
enrichment of twent)Hfour slender shafts in eight groups of three, rising be)ond
the capitals to form the deepl) undulating mouldings of the arches.
0AA1
he capitals
themsel'es are remar-able for the 'italit) of the st)lised foliage, in a st)le -nown as 2stiffH
leaf2. he li'eliness contrasts with the formalit) of the moulded shafts and the smooth
unbro-en areas of ashlar masonr) in the spandrels. Each capital is different, and some
contain small figures illustrating narrati'es.
0AA1
he 'ault of the na'e rises steepl) in a simple 3uadripartite form, in harmon) with the na'e
arcade.
0A?1
he eastern end of the choir was e/tended and the whole upper part elaborated in
the second 3uarter of the !$th centur) b) William 9o).
06A1
he 'ault has a multiplicit) of ribs in
a netHli-e form, which is 'er) different from that of the na'e, and is perhaps a recreation in
stone of a local t)pe of compartmented wooden roof of which e/amples remain from the !#th
centur), including those at St Cuthbert's Church, Wells.
0!!&1
he 'aults of the aisles of the
choir also ha'e a uni3ue pattern.
0A?1
<ntil the earl) !$th centur) the interior of the cathedral was in a unified st)le, but it was to
undergo two significant changes, to the tower and to the eastern end. Between !6!# and
!644 the central tower was heightened and topped b) a spire which caused the piers that
supported it to show signs of stress. (n !66A the mason William 9o) emplo)ed an unorthodo/
solution b) inserting low arches topped b) in'erted arches of similar dimensions, forming
scissorsHli-e structures. hese arches brace the piers of the crossing on three sides, while
the easternmost side is braced b) a choir screen.
0!!!1
he bracing arches are -nown as the
2St Andrew's Cross arches2 as a reference to the patronal saint of the cathedral and ha'e
been described b) Wim Swaan as 2brutall) massi'e2 and intrusi'e in an otherwise restrained
interior.
0!&1
he hori*ontal line of the na'e is emphasised b) the unbro-en galleries, the string courses and the strongl)
proIecting foliage of the capitals.
he 3uadripartite 'ault of the na'e was decorated in the !%th centur).
St Andrew's Cross arches under the tower
he 'ault of the choir has a uni3ue form perhaps patterned on wooden roofs.
+ady Chapel and retrochoir[edit]
Wells Cathedral has a s3uare terminal to the choir, as is usual, and li-e se'eral other
cathedrals including Salisbur) and+ichfield, has a lower +ad) Chapel proIecting at the
eastern end, begun b) homas Witne) in about !6!&, possibl) before the chapter house
was completed. he +ad) Chapel seems to ha'e begun as a freeHstanding structure in the
form of an elongated octagon, but the plan changed, and it was lin-ed to the eastern end of
the building b) the e/tension of the choir and the construction of a second transept or
retrochoir east of the choir, probabl) b) William 9o).
0!!41
he +ad) Chapel has a 'ault of comple/ and somewhat irregular pattern, as the chapel is
not s)mmetrical about both a/es. he main ribs are intersected b) additional nonHsupporting
ribs -nown as 2lierne ribs2 and which in this case form a starHshaped pattern at the ape/ of
the 'ault. (t is one of the earliest lierne 'aults in England.
0!!41
here are fi'e large windows, of
which four are filled with fragments of medie'al glass.
0!!41
he tracer) of the windows is in the
st)le -nown as 7eticulated 5othic, ha'ing a pattern of a single repeated shape, in this case
a trefoil, gi'ing a 2reticulate2 or netHli-e appearance.
0!!41
he retrochoir e/tends across the eastern end of the choir and into the eastern transepts. At
its centre the 'ault is supported b) a remar-able structure of angled piers. wo of these piers
are located so as to complete the octagonal shape of the +ad) Chapel, a solution described
b) Drancis Bond as 2an intuition of 5enius2.
0!!61
he piers ha'e attached shafts of marble,
and, with the 'aults that the) support, create a 'ista of great comple/it) from e'er) angle.
0!!41
he windows of the retrochoir are in the 7eticulated st)le li-e those of the +ad) Chapel,
but are full) Dlowing Cecorated in that the tracer) mouldings form ogi'al cur'es.
0!!41
Eastern end of the cathedral$ 1,10-.
he +ad) Chapel was probabl) b) homas Witne), (!6!&@!%). he windows ha'e tracer) of a regular netH
li-e pattern and contain ancient stained glass.
he stellar 'ault of the +ad) Chapel has lierne ribs ma-ing a star within a star.
he 'iew through William 9o)'s retrochoir into the +ad) Chapel has been described as 2one of the most
subtle and entrancing architectural prospects in Europe2.
0!!41
he eastern ba)s of the choir (!64%@$#) showing the reticular 'ault and the galler) of saints beneath the
east window
0!!&1
Chapter /ouse[edit]
he chapter house was begun in the late !6th centur) and built in two stages, completed
about !6!&. (t is a twoHstore)ed structure with the main chamber raised on an undercroft. (t
is entered from a staircase which di'ides and turns, one branch leading through the upper
store) of Chain 5ate to >icars' Close. he Cecorated interior is described b) Alec CliftonH
a)lor as 2architecturall) the most beautiful in England2.
0%&1
(t is octagonal, with its ribbed
'ault supported on a central column. he column is surrounded b) shafts of =urbec- Barble,
rising to a single continuous rippling foliate capital of st)lised oa- lea'es and acorns, 3uite
different in character to the Earl) English stiffHleaf foliage. Abo'e the moulding spring thirt)H
two ribs of strong profile gi'ing an effect generall) li-ened to 2a great palm tree2.
0%&1
he
windows are large with 5eometric Cecorated tracer) that is beginning to show an elongation
of form, and ogees in the lesser lights that are characteristic of Dlowing Cecorated tracer).
he tracer) lights still contain ancient glass.
0%&1
Beneath the windows are fift)Hone stalls, the
canopies of which are enli'ened b) car'ings including man) heads car'ed in a lightHhearted
manner.
0%&1
A staircase leads from the cathedral (right) to the chapter house and the Chain 5ate which gi'es access to
>icars Close.
he stairs to the chapter house and >icars' Close
he chapter house is off the staircase to the right. (ts central column and 'ault are often li-ened to a palm
tree.
he walls of the chapter house ha'e fift)Hone niches for seating.
Artworks and treasures[edit]
Stained glass[edit]
Wells Cathedral contains one of the most substantial collections of medie'al stained glass in
England,
0!!$1
despite damage b) =arliamentar) troops in !?$4 and !?$6.
0!!#1
he oldest
sur'i'ing glass dates from the late !6th centur) and is in two windows on the west side of
the chapter house staircase. wo windows in the south choir aisle are from !6!&@4&.
0!1
he +ad) Chapel has fi'e windows of which four date from !64#@6& and include images of a
local saint, Cunstan.
0!10!!$1
he east window was restored to a semblance of its original
appearance b) homas Willement in !A$#. he other windows ha'e complete canopies, but
the pictorial sections are fragmented.
0!1
he east window of the choir is a broad se'enHlight window dating from !6$&@$#. (t depicts
the Tree of Jesse (the genealog) of Christ) and demonstrates the use of sil'er staining, a
new techni3ue that allowed the artist to paint details on the glass in )ellow, as well as blac-.
0!!?1
he combination of )ellow and green glass and the application of the bright )ellow stain
gi'es the window its popular name, the 25olden Window2.
0!!&1
(t is flan-ed b) two windows
each side in the clerestor), with large figures of saints, also dated to !6$&@$#.
0!!"1
(n 4&!& a
maIor conser'ation programme was underta-en on the 9esse ree window.
0"!1
he panels in the chapel of St Eatherine are attributed to Arnold of 8iImegen and date from
about !#4&.
0!1
he) were ac3uired from the destro)ed church of SaintH9ean, 7ouen,
0!!$1
with
the last panel ha'ing been purchased in !%#6.
0!1
he large triple lancet to the na'e west end was gla*ed at the e/pense of Cean Creighton at
a cost of J!$& in !??$. (t was repaired in !A!6, and the central light was largel) replaced to
a design b) Archibald Eeightle) 8icholson between !%4# and !%6!. he main north and
south transept end windows b) 9ames =owell and Sons were erected in the earl) 4&th
centur).
0!1
he fi'e windows of the +ad) Chapel contain ancientstained glass, mostl) fragmentar), e/cept for the
central window.
his earl) !$thHcentur) eastern window was hea'il) restored in the !%th centur).
he 5olden Window at the east end of the choir depicting the ree of 9esse
Carvings[edit]
he greater part of the stone car'ing of Wells Cathedral comprises foliate capitals in the stiffH
leaf st)le. he) are found ornamenting the piers of the na'e, choir and transepts. StiffHleaf
foliage is highl) abstracted, and although possibl) influenced b) car'ings of acanthus lea'es
or 'ine lea'es, cannot be easil) identified as representing an) particular plant.
0!!A1
At Wells,
the car'ing of the foliage is 'aried and 'igorous, the springing lea'es and deep undercuts
casting shadows that contrast with the surface of the piers.
0!!A1
(n the transepts and towards
the crossing in the na'e the capitals ha'e man) small figurati'e car'ings among the lea'es.
hese include a man with a toothache and a series of four scenes depicting the 2Wages of
Sin2 in a narrati'e of fruit stealers who creep into an orchard and are subse3uentl) beaten b)
the farmer. Another wellH-nown car'ing is in the north transept aisle, a foliate corbel on which
climbs a li*ard, sometimes identified as a salamander, a s)mbol of eternal life.
0!!&10!!A1
Car'ings in the Cecorated 5othic st)le ma) be found in the eastern end of the buildings,
where there are man) car'ed bosses. (n the chapter house, the car'ings of the fift)Hone
stalls include numerous small heads of great 'ariet), man) of them smiling or laughing. A
wellH-nown figure is the corbel of the dragonHsla)ing mon- in the chapter house stair. he
large continuous capital that encircles the central pillar of the chapter house is mar-edl)
different in st)le to the stiffHleaf of the Earl) English period. (n contrast to the bold proIections
and undercutting of the earlier wor-, it has a rippling form and is clearl) identifiable as
grape'ine.
0!!%1
he !#thHcentur) cloisters ha'e man) small bosses ornamenting the 'ault. wo of these
car'ings in the west cloister, near the location of the gift shop and cafL, ha'e been described
as sheela na gigs which are female figures displa)ing their genitals and 'ariousl) considered
to be associated with depictions of the sin of lust or with ancient fertilit) cults.
0!4&10!4!10!441
A chantr) in the na'e (photo Drancis Bedford, !%th centur))
A capital in the narrati'e of the Fruit Stealers shows a farmer hitting a thief with a garden for-. (Albumen
print, ca. !A"?@%#)
he salamander represents Eternal +ife.
he stiff leaf foliage of the capitals is renowned.
0isericords[edit]
Wells Cathedral has one of the finest sets of misericords in Britain.
0!4610!4$1
(ts clerg) has a long
tradition of singing or reciting from the Boo- of =salms each da), along with the customar)
dail) reading of the :ol) .ffice. (n medie'al times the clerg) assembled in the church eight
times dail) for the canonical hours. As the greater part of the ser'ices was recited while
standing, man) monastic or collegiate churches were fitted with stalls in which the seats
tipped up to pro'ide a con'enient ledge for the mon- or cleric to lean against. he) were
called 2misericords2 because their installation was an act of merc).
0!461
Bisericords t)picall)
ha'e a car'ed figurati'e brac-et beneath the ledge framed b) two floral motifs -nown, in
the heraldic manner, as 2supporters2.
0!461
he misericords date from !66& to !6$&.
0!461
he) ma) ha'e been car'ed under the direction
of master carpenter 9ohn Strode, although his name is not recorded before !6$!. :e was
assisted b) Bartholomew Nuarter, who is documented from !6$6.
0!461
he) originall)
numbered ninet), of which si/t)Hfi'e ha'e sur'i'ed.
0!4#1
Si/t)Hone are installed in the choir,
three are displa)ed in the cathedral and one is held b) the >ictoria and Albert Buseum.
0!461
8ew stalls were ordered when the eastern end of the choir was e/tended in the earl)
!$th centur). he canons complained that the) had borne the cost of the rebuilding and
ordered that the prebendar) clerics should pa) for their own stalls.
0!461
When the newl)
refurbished choir opened in !66% man) misericords were left unfinished, including one fifth of
the sur'i'ing si/t)Hfi'e. Ban) of the clerics had not paid, and were re3uired to contribute a
total sum of J4&&. he misericords sur'i'ed better than the other sections of the stalls,
which, during the =rotestant 7eformation, had their canopies chopped off and galleries
inserted abo'e them.
0!461
.ne of the misericords, depicting a bo) pulling a thorn from his foot,
dates from the !"th centur).
0!4$1
(n !A$A there was a complete rearrangement of the choir
furniture, and si/t)Hone of the misericords were reused in the restructured stalls.
0!461
he subIect matter of the car'ings of the central brac-ets on misericords is 'er) 'aried, but
with man) common themes occurring in different churches. )picall), the themes are less
unified and less directl) related to the Bible and Christian theolog) than are the themes of
small sculptures seen elsewhere within churches, such as those on bosses. his is much the
case at Wells, where none of the misericord car'ings is directl) based on a Biblical stor).
0!4$1
he subIects, chosen either b) the woodHcar'er, or perhaps b) the indi'idual pa)ing for
the stall, ha'e no o'erHriding theme. he sole unif)ing element is the roundels on each side
of the pictorial subIect, which are all elaboratel) car'ed foliage, in most cases formal and
st)lised in the later Cecorated manner, but with se'eral e/amples of naturalistic foliage
including roses andbindweed.
0!4610!4$1
Ban) of the subIects carr) traditional interpretations.
he image of the 2=elican in her =iet)2 (belie'ed to feed her )oung on her own blood) is a
recognised s)mbol for Christ's lo'e for the Church. A cat pla)ing with a mouse ma)
represent the Ce'il snaring a human soul.
0!4$1
.ther subIects illustrate popular fables or
sa)ings such as 2When the fo/ preaches, loo- to )our geese2.
0!4?1
Ban) of the subIects are
depictions of animals, some of which ma) s)mbolise a human 'ice or 'irtue, or an aspect of
faith.
0!4$1
went)Hse'en of the car'ings depict animalsK rabbits, dogs, a pupp) biting a cat, a ewe
feeding a lamb, mon-e)s, lions, bats, and the earl) Christian motif of two do'es drin-ing
from a ewer. Eighteen of the misericords ha'e m)thological subIects, including mermaids,
dragons and w)'erns. Di'e of the car'ings are clearl) narrati'e, such as the Do/ and the
5eese, and the stor) of Ale/ander the 5reat being raised to :ea'en b) griffins. here are
three headsK a bishop in a mitre, an angel and a woman wearing a 'eil o'er her hair
arranged in coils o'er each ear. Ele'en car'ings are of human figures, among which are
se'eral of remar-able design, ha'ing been concei'ed b) the artist specificall) for their
purpose of supporting a shelf. .ne figure lies beneath the seat, supporting the shelf with his
chee-, one hand and one foot. Another sits in a contorted manner supporting the weight on
his elbow, while another figure s3uats with his -nees wide apart and a strained loo- on his
face.
0!461
0isericords
.ne of se'eral misericords showing heads
A pair of para-eets in a pine tree
A couple sharing a Iug of wine
.ne of se'eral misericords showing contorted figures
1ittings and 2onu2ents[edit]
Some of the cathedral's fittings and monuments are hundreds of )ears old. he brass lectern
in the +ad) Chapel dates from !??!, and has a moulded stand and foliate crest.
0A%1
(n the
north transept chapel is a !"thHcentur) oa- screen with columns, formerl) part of cow stalls,
with artisan (onic capitals and cornice, which is set forward o'er the chest tomb of 9ohn
5odelee. here is a bound oa- chest from the !$th centur) which was used to store the
chapter seal and -e) documents. he Bishop's hrone dates from !6$&, and has a panelled,
canted front and stone doorwa), and a deep nodding cusped ogee canop) abo'e it, with
threeHstepped statue niches and pinnacles. he throne was restored b) Anthon) Sal'in
around !A#&.
0!1
.pposite the throne is a !%thHcentur) octagonal pulpit on a co'ed base with
panelled sides, and steps up from the north aisle. he round font in the south transept is
from the former Sa/on cathedral and has an arcade of roundHheaded arches, on a
round plinth. he font co'er was made in !?6# and is decorated with the heads of putti. he
Chapel of St Bartin is a memorial to e'er) Somerset man who fell in World War (.
0!4"1
he monuments and tombs includeK Bishop 5isa, died !&AAG Bishop B)tton, died !4"$G
Bishop William of Barch, died !6&4G 9ohn Cro/ford, died !64%G 9ohn 5odelee, died !666G
9ohn Biddleton, died c!6#&G 7alph of Shrewsbur), died !6?6G Bishop :arewell, died !6A?G
William B)-on)ll, died c!$$AG 9ohn Bernard, died !$#%G Bishop Be-)nton, died !$?$G 9ohn
5unthorpe, died !$%AG 9ohn Still, died !?&"G 7obert Creighton, died !?"4G Bishop Eidder,
died !"&6G Bishop :ooper, died !"4" andBishop :ar'e), died !A%$.
0!4A1
Cloc3[edit]
(n the north transept is Wells Cathedral cloc-, an astronomical cloc- from about !64#,
belie'ed to be the wor- of =eter +ightfoot, a mon- of 5lastonbur).
0!4%1
(ts mechanism, dated
to between !6A? and !6%4, was replaced in the !%th centur), and the original mechanism
mo'ed to the Science Buseum in +ondon, where it continues to operate. (t is the secondH
oldest sur'i'ing cloc- in England, after the Salisbur) cathedral cloc-.
0!6&1
he cloc- has its original medie'al face. As well as showing the time on a 4$Hhour dial, it
reflects the motion of the Sun and Boon, the phases of the Boon, and the time since the last
new Boon. he astronomical dial represents a geocentric or preHCopernican 'iew of the
uni'erse, with the Sun and Boon re'ol'ing round a central fi/ed Earth, li-e that of the cloc-
at .tter) St Bar).
0$41
E'er) 3uarter hour the cloc- is chimed b) a 3uarter Iac- in the form of a
small automaton -nown as 9ac- Blandifers, who hits two bells with hammers and two with
his heels.
0!6!1
At the stri-ing of the cloc- Iousting -nights appear abo'e the cloc- face.
0!641
.n the outer wall of the transept, opposite >icars' :all, is a second cloc- face of the same
cloc-, placed there Iust o'er se'ent) )ears after the interior cloc- and dri'en b) the same
mechanism. he second cloc- face has two 3uarter Iac-s (which stri-e on the 3uarter hour)
in the form of -nights in armour.
0!661
(n 4&!& the official cloc-Hwinder retired and was replaced b) an electric mechanism.
0!6$1
he organ, :arrison O :arrison (!%&%@!&)
he altar and modern furnishings in the na'e
he internal dial of the astronomical cloc-
he outer dial and 3uarterHIac-s on the north transept
Music[edit]
See also: List of musicians at English cathedrals
4rgan and organists[edit]
he first record of an organ at this church dates from !6!&, and a smaller organ, probabl) for
the +ad) Chapel, was installed in !$!#. (n !?4& an organ, built b) homas Callam, was
installed at a cost of J6%A !s #d.(e3ui'alent to about J"#,&&& as of 4&!4
0c1
).
he organ that was installed in !?4& was destro)ed b) parliamentar) soldiers in !?$6. An
organ built in !??4 was enlarged in !"A? and again in !A##.
0!6?1
(n !%&%@!%!& an organ was
built b) :arrison O :arrison of Curham with the best parts of the old organ retained, and it
has been maintained b) the same compan) since.
0!6?1
he first recorded organist of Wells Cathedral was Walter Bagele (or >ageler) in !$!?,
0!6"1
and the post of organist or assistant organist has been held b) more than ?& indi'iduals
since then. Between !%%? and 4&&$ the appointed .rganist and Baster of the
Choristers was Balcolm Archer. Since 4&&# the organist has been Batthew .wens.
0!6A1
9onathan >aughnwas appointed assistant organist in 4&&", and the current organ
scholars are .wain =ar- and William Do/.
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Cathedral Choir[edit]
here has been a choir of bo) choristers at Wells since %&%. Currentl) there are eighteen
bo) choristers aged from eight to fourteen )ears.
0!$&1
he >icars Choral was formed in the
!4th centur) and the sung liturg) was pro'ided b) a traditional cathedral choir of men and
bo)s, until the formation of an additional choir of girls in !%%$. he bo)s and girls sing
alternatel) with the >icars Choral, and are educated at Wells Cathedral School.
0!$!1
he
>icars Choral currentl) number twel'e men, of whom three are choral scholars. Since !6$A
the College of >icars has had its own accommodation. he >icars Choral generall) perform
with the choristers, e/cept on Wednesda)s, when the) sing alone, enabling them to present
a different repertoire.
0!$41
(n Cecember 4&!& Wells Cathedral Choir was rated b) Gramophone maga*ine as 2the
highest ran-ing choir with children in the world2,
0!$&1
and continues to pro'ide music for the
liturg) at Sunda) and wee-da) ser'ices. he choir has made man) recordings and toured
fre3uentl), including performances in BeiIing and :ong Eong in 4&!4. (ts repertoire ranges
from the choral music of the 7enaissance to recentl) commissioned wor-s.
0!$&1
"oluntary Choir[edit]
he Wells Cathedral >oluntar) Choir is a mi/ed adult choir of thirt) members. (t was formed
in !%A? to sing at the midnight ser'ice on Christmas E'e, and was in'ited to sing at se'eral
other special ser'ices.
0!$61
he choir now sings about fift) ser'ices a )ear when the Cathedral
Choir is in recess or on tour, and spends one wee- a )ear singing as the 2choir in residence2
at another cathedral. Although primaril) liturgical, the choir's repertoire also includes other
forms of music as well as performances at engagements such as weddings and funerals.
0!$$1
Bells[edit]
he bells at Wells Cathedral are the hea'iest ring of ten bells in the world,
0!$#1
the tenor bell
(the !&th and largest), -nown as :arewell, weighing #?.4# long hundredweights (4,A#A -g).
0!$?1
he) are hung for full circle ringing in the English st)le ofchange ringing. hese bells are
now hung in the south west tower, although some were originall) hung in the central tower.
0!$"1
)u2ber )a2e #ate 0a3er Weight
!st !A%! Bears O Stainban- " long cwt 6 3tr !4 lb (AA& lb or 6%% -g)
4nd !A%! Bears O Stainban- % long cwt & 3tr 4 lb (!,&!& lb or $#A -g)
6rd !"#" Abel 7udhall !& long cwt (#!& -g)
$th !"#" Abel 7udhall !&."# long cwt (#$? -g)
#th !"#" Abel 7udhall !4.# long cwt (?$& -g)
?th !%?$ Bears O Stainban- !# long cwt ! 3tr !$ lb (!,"44 lb or "A! -g)
"th !"#" Abel 7udhall 4& long cwt (!,&&& -g)
Ath !"#" Abel 7udhall 46 long cwt (!,4&& -g)
%th !A"" 9ohn a)lor O Co 64 long cwt (!,?&& -g)
!&th :arewell !A"" 9ohn a)lor O Co #? long cwt ! 3tr !$ lb (?,6!$ lb or 4,A?$ -g)
0!$A1
Library[edit]
he librar) is abo'e the eastern cloister, and was built between !$6& and !#&A.
06A1
he
librar)'s collection is in three partsK earl) documents, housed in the Buniment 7oomG the
collection predating !A&&, housed in the Chained +ibrar)G and the postH!A&& collection,
housed in the 7eading 7oom.
0!$%1
he chapter's earlier collection was destro)ed during the
7eformation, so the present librar) consists chiefl) of earl) printed boo-s, rather than
medie'al manuscripts.
0!$%1
he earlier boo-s, in the Chained +ibrar), number 4,A&& 'olumes
and gi'e an indication of the 'ariet) of interests of the members of the cathedral chapter
from the 7eformation until !A&&. he focus of the collection is predominantl) theolog) but
there are 'olumes on science, medicine, e/ploration, and languages. Boo-s of particular
interest include =lin)'s Natural Historprinted in !$"4, an !tlas of the World b) Abraham
.rtelius, printed in !?&? and a set of the wor-s of Aristotle that once belonged to Erasmus.
0!$%1
he librar) is open to the public at appointed times during summer and has a small
e/hibition of documents and boo-s.
0!$%1
4riginal records[edit]
hree earl) registers of the dean and chapter of Wells @ the Li"er !l"us # (White Boo-G 7
(), Li"er !l"us ## (7 ((() and Li"er $u"er (7ed Boo-G 7 ((, section i) @ were edited b) W. :. B.
Bird for the :istorical Banuscripts Commissioners and published in !%&".
0!#&1
he boo-s
comprise, with some repetition, a cartular) of possessions of the cathedral, with grants of
land dating bac- as earl) as the Ath centur), well before the de'elopment of hereditar)
surnames in EnglandG the) also comprise acts of the dean and chapter, and sur'e)s of their
estates, mostl) in Somerset.
0!#!1
Environs and associated buildings[edit]
Drom the Bar-et =lace, =enniless =orch (left) leads to Cathedral 5reen, and he Bishop's E)e (right) to the
Bishop's =alace.
he cathdral seen be)ond the wall and moat of the Bishop's =alace
o the south and east of the cathedral is the Bishop's 5arden and reflecting pool.
>icars' Close e/tends to the north of the cathedral
he cathedral is situated adIacent to a large lawned area, Cathedral 5reen, which is
approached b) three ancient gatewa)s, Brown's 5atehouse, =enniless =orch and Chain
5ate. .n Cathedral 5reen is the !4thHcentur) .ld Ceaner), largel) rebuilt in the late !#th
centur) b) Cean 5unthorpe and remodelled b) Cean Bathurst in the late !"th centur). (t is
no longer the residence of the dean, and instead ser'es as offices for the diocese.
0!#41
o the south of the cathedral is the moated Bishop's =alace, begun around !4!& b) Bishop
9ocelin of Wells but dating mostl) from the !46&s. (n the !#th centur) Bishop Bec-ington
added the north wing, which is now the bishop's residence.
0!#610!#$1
(t was restored and
e/tended b) BenIamin Derre) between !A$? and !A#$.
0!##1
o the north of the cathedral and connected to it b) the Chain 5ate is >icars' Close, a street
planned in the !$th centur) and claimed to be the oldest purel) residential street in Europe
with all but one of its original buildings sur'i'ing intact.
0!4"10!#?1
Buildings in >icars' Close
include the >icars :all and gatewa) at the south end, and the >icars Chapel and +ibrar) at
the north end.
0!#"10!#A1
In the arts and popular culture[edit]
West front as painted b) 9. B. W. urner around !"%#, watercolour on paper
British painter 9. B. W. urner 'isited Wells in !"%#, ma-ing s-etches of the precinct and a
watercolour of the west front, now in the ategaller).
0!#%1
.ther artists whose paintings of the
cathedral are in national collections are Albert 5oodwin,
0!?&1
9ohn S)er
0!?!1
and Een :oward.
0!?41
he cathedral was used as an inspiration for Een Dollett's no'el The %illars of the Earth and,
with a hea'il) modified central tower, featured as the completed fictional Eingsbridge
Cathedral at the end of the 4&!& tele'ision adaptation of that no'el.