architecture

2. Wells Cathedral is a Church of
England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of
the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's
Palace.
Built between 1175 and 1490, Wells Cathedral has been described as
“the most poetic of the English Cathedrals”. Much of the structure is
in the Early English style and is greatly enriched by the deeply
sculptural nature of the mouldings and the vitality of the carved
capitals in a foliate style known as “stiff leaf”. The eastern end has
retained much original glass, which is rare in England. The exterior has
a splendid Early English façade and a large central tower.
The first church was established on the site in 705. Construction of
the present building began in the 10th century and was largely
complete at the time of its dedication in 1239. It has undergone
several expansions and renovations since then and has been designated
by English Heritage as a grade I listed building, and Scheduled Ancient
Monument.

3. The west
front,
complet
ed c. 1250,
has about
300
medieval
statues;
many of
the
figures,
and
their nich
es, were
originally
painted
and gilde
dWells Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St. Andrew

4. Wells Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St. Andrew
The west front, completed c. 1250, has about 300 medieval statues;
many of the figures, and their niches, were originally painted
and gilded
Wells Cathedral
Location Wells, Somerset
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Website www.wellscathedral.org.uk
Architecture
Style Gothic (Early English)
Years built 1176–1490
Specifications

5. Length 116.7 m (383 ft)
Nave length 49.1 m (161 ft)
Choir length 31.4 m (103 ft)
Nave width 11.5 m (38 ft)
24.9 m (82 ft) including aisles
Width across transepts 41.1 m (135 ft)
Nave height 20.4 m (67 ft)
Choir height 20.4 m (67 ft)
Number oftowers 3
Tower height 48.7 m (160 ft) (crossing)
Administration
Diocese Bath and Wells (since c.909)
Province Canterbury
Clergy
Bishop(s) Peter Price
Dean John Clarke
Laity
Organist(s) Matthew Owens

7. The ceiling of
Wells
Cathedral.

8. Victorian era and restoration
The nave and strainer arches c.1890
The inverted arch in Wells Cathedral, in
2006.

9. Architecture
Plan, showing the four massive piers of the crossing (centre), the
octagonal chapter house (top) and the extended east end(right)
The interior of the cathedral is based on three aisles, with stress
being placed on horizontal, rather than vertical lines. A unique
feature in the crossing are the double pointed inverted arches,
known as owl-eyed strainer arches. This unorthodox solution was
found by the cathedral mason, William Joy in 1338, to stop the
central tower from collapsing when another stage and spire were
added to the tower which had been begun in the 13th century. The
capitals in the south west arm of the transept include depictions
such as a bald-headed man, a man with toothache, a thorn-
extractor, and a moral tale: fruit thieves being caught and
punished.

10. The west façade, is 100 feet (30 m) high and 150 feet (46 m)
wide with niches for more than 500 medieval figure sculptures
of which 300 survive. Between 1975 and 1986 the west front
underwent a major cleaning and restoration programme,
including Silane coating and Lime treatment for many of the
statues.
The West front is composed of a yellow stone, inferior oolite, of
the middle Jurassic period which came from the Doulting Stone
Quarry about 8 miles (13 km) to the East.
Plan, showing the four massive piers
of the crossing (centre), the
octagonal chapter house (top) and
the extended east end(right)

11. Stained glass
Stained glass at the eastern end
Wells Cathedral contains one of the most substantial
collections of medieval stained glass in England.
Many of the windows were damaged by soldiers in 1642
and 1643. The oldest surviving are two windows on the
west side of the Chapter House staircase date from 1280–
90, and two windows in the south choir aisle which are
from 1310–1320. The Lady Chapel range is from 1325–
1330, and includes images of local saint Dunstan, however
the east window underwent extensive repairs by Thomas
Willement in 1845. The choir east window is a fine Jesse
Tree, which includes significant silver stain, and is flanked
by two windows each side in the clerestory, with large
figures of saints, all of which are from 1340–1345

12. In 2010 a major conservation
programme was undertaken on the
Jesse window. The 1520 panels in
the chapel of St Katherine are
attributed to Arnold of
Nijmegen and were acquired from
the destroyed church of Saint-
Jean, Rouen, the last panel was
bought in 1953. The large triple
lancet to the nave west end was
glazed at the expense of Dean
Creyghton at a cost of £140 in
1664 and repaired in 1813. The
central light was largely replaced
to a design by Archibald Keightley
Nicholson between 1925–1931. The
main north and south transept end
windows are by Powell, and were
erected in the early 20th century.
Stained glass at the eastern end

13. Fittings and monuments
The font
"Grotesque" capital showing one man hitting another with a
spade. Albumen print, ca. 1876–1895
The cathedral contains architectural features and fittings
some dating back hundreds of years, and tombs and monuments
to bishops and noblemen.
The brass lectern in the Lady Chapel is from 1661 and has a
moulded stand and foliate crest. In the north transept chapel
is a 17th century oak screen with columns, formerly part of
cow stalls, with artisan Ionic capitals and cornice, which is set
forward over chest tomb of John Godelee. There is a bound
oak chest from the 14th century which would have been used
to store the Chapter Seal and key documents.

14. The Bishop's Throne dates from 1340, and has a panelled, canted
front and stone doorway, and a deep nodding cusped ogee canopy over
it, with 3 stepped statue niches and pinnacles. The throne was
restored by Anthony Salvin around 1850. Opposite the throne is a
19th century pulpit, which is octagonal on a coved base with panelled
sides, and steps up from the north aisle. The round font in the south
transept is from the former Saxon cathedral, it has an arcade of
round-headed arches, on a round plinth and a cover made in 1635
cover with heads of putti round sides. The Chapel of St Martin is a
memorial to every Somerset man who fell in World War I.
The font

15. The monuments and tombs include: Bishop Giso, died 1088: Bishop
Bytton died 1274: Bishop William of March, died 1302:John
Drokensford, died 1329: John Godelee, died 1333: John
Middleton, died c1350: Ralph of Shrewsbury, died 1363:Bishop
Harewell died 1386: William Bykonyll died c1448: John Bernard,
died 1459: Bishop Bekynton, died 1464: John Gunthorpe, died
1498: John Still died 1607:Robert Creyghton died 1672: Bishop
Kidder, died 1703: Bishop Hooper, died 1727 and Bishop
Harvey died 1894.
Two carvings in the West Cloister, now near the gift shop and
cafe, have been described as being Sheela na Gigs, however they
are not typical and this classification has been challenged.
"Grotesque" capital showing one man hitting
another with a spade. Albumen print, ca. 1876–
1895

16. Clock
The clock
The Wells clock, an astronomical clock, is located in the
north transept. The surviving mechanism, dated to between 1386
and 1392, was replaced in the 19th century, and was eventually
moved to the Science Museum in London, where it continues to
operate. It is the second-oldest surviving clock in England.
The dial represents a pre-Copernican or geocentric view of the
universe, with sun and moon revolving round a central fixed earth,
like the astronomical clock at Ottery St Mary. The clock still has
its original medieval face. As well as showing the time on a 24
hour dial, it reflects the motion of the sun and the moon, the
phases of the moon, and the time since the last new moon

17. When the clock
strikes every
quarter, jousting kni
ghts move around
above the clock and
the Quarter
jack marks the
quarter hours with
his heels. The
outside clock face,
opposite Vicars'
Hall, placed there
just over seventy
years after the
interior clock, is
driven by the inside
mechanism. In 2010
the official clock-
winder retired and
was replaced by an
electric mechanism.

18. Misericords
The Cathedral has 64 misericords dating from
1330 to 1340, twelve of which were never
completed. Although a few represent everyday
scenes, such as two goats butting each other and
a lamb sucking from a ewe, most have
a mythological theme.

19. Library
The cathedral is also famous for its library, which was built
in the mid-15th century. Located over the East Cloister, the
library holds the Chapter's collection in two rooms, with
volumes published before 1800 being held in the Old
Library. The library's medieval collection was destroyed
during the reformation. The cathedral's earliest records
are held in the Muniment Room at the southern end of the
Library. The volumes held reflect the Canon's wide-ranging
intellectual interests. The collection's core subject is
theology, but science, medicine, history, exploration and
languages are also well-represented. The library is open to
the public at appointed times during summer, with a small
exhibition of documents and books.

20. Bells
Wells Cathedral has ten bells. These are the heaviest ring of ten
bells in the world, with a tenor bell, known as Harewell, that
weighs 56.25 long hundredweights (2,858 kg). They are hung for
full circle ringing in the English style of Change ringing. These
bells are now hung in the South West Tower although originally a
small number of bells were hung in the lantern. The oldest bells
are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th that date from 1757 and were
made by Abel Rudhall. The 3rd weighs 10 long cwt (510 kg), the
4th 10.75 long cwt (546 kg), the 5th 12.5 long cwt (640 kg), The
7th 20 long cwt (1,000 kg) and the 8th 23 long cwt (1,200 kg). In
1877 bells 9 and 10 were cast by John Taylor & Co. The 9th
weighs 32 long cwt (1,600 kg) and the 10th 56 long cwt 1 qtr 14 lb
(6,314 lb or 2,864 kg). The 1st and 2nd date from 1891 and were
made by Mears & Stainbank. The 1st weighs 7 long cwt 3 qtr 12 lb
(880 lb or 399 kg) while the 2nd weighs 9 long cwt 0 qtr 2 lb
(1,010 lb or 458 kg). The most recent bell, the 6th, was cast in
1964 also by Mears & Stainbank and weighs 15 long cwt 1 qtr 14 lb
(1,722 lb or 781 kg).

21. Deans of Wells
The Dean of Wells is the head of
the Chapter of Wells Cathedral. The
current Dean is the Very Revd John Clarke,
who lives in The Dean's Lodging, 25 The
Liberty, Wells.

22. Organ and organists
Organ seen from the crossing.
The first record of an organ dates from 1310, with a smaller
organ, probably for the Lady Chapel, being installed in 1415. In
1620 a new organ, built by Thomas Dallam, was installed at a
cost of £398 1s 5d, however this was destroyed by
parliamentary soldiers in 1643 and another new organ was built
in 1662,which was enlarged in 1786, and again in 1855. In 1909–
1910 a new organ was built by Harrison & Harrison with the
best parts of old organ retained,and this has been maintained
by the same company since.

23. The first recorded organist of Wells Cathedral was
Walter Bagele (or Vageler) in 1416, and the post of
organist or assistant organist has been held by over 60
individual since then. The current organist is Matthew
Owens who took up the post in 2005. Jonathan Vaughn
was appointed as assistant organist in 2007, and the
current organ scholars are Sachin Gunga and Owain
Park.
Organ seen from the
crossing