Summary
The smallest cathedral city in England, Wells is home to 10,000 residents at the southern base of the Mendip Hills.
Named for the natural springs located within the cathedral grounds, Wells became a bishopric in the 10th century. Since the 13th century, it has shared a diocese with Bath.
The walled ecclesiastical precinct, comprising the magnificent cathedral, the moated Bishop’s Palace, and residences for clergy members, is exceptionally preserved, and features a street that has remained unchanged since the 14th century.
The Mendip Hills are designated as an Area of Outstanding Beauty, where visitors can explore gardens that offer sweeping views of the city and its cathedral.
Those familiar with the Simon Pegg film, Hot Fuzz, will recognize landmarks such as the Market Place and St Cuthbert’s Church, which were depicted as the fictional town of Sandford.
Let us delve into the best attractions in Wells:
1. Wells Cathedral
As the first cathedral in Europe designed exclusively in the Gothic style, Wells Cathedral’s construction began in 1176 and continued for the next 300 years.
It is celebrated as one of the country’s most beautiful cathedrals, demonstrating the Early English style through its fluted piers, pointed arcades, and capitals adorned with foliate designs.
The remarkable west façade spans 46 meters and features more than 300 sculpted figures.
The ingenious scissor arches, introduced in 1338, provide unparalleled support for the tower, a feature unmatched in Medieval architecture.
Wells Cathedral also boasts a remarkable collection of Medieval stained glass, with the Tree of Jesse at the east end of the choir, installed in the 1340s using the innovative silver staining technique.
2. Bishop’s Palace
Constructed following the 13th-century Bishop of Bath, Jocelin of Wells’ royal permission for a residence and deer park, the Bishop’s Palace continues to serve as the seat of the Bishops of Bath and Wells.
This palace diverges from typical ecclesiastical architecture, as it is fortified with a moat and walls.
Upon entering through the gatehouse, visitors are greeted by an immaculate croquet lawn bordered by the chapel and the remains of the 13th-century great hall, which fell into disrepair after the roof lead was sold in the 16th century.
Visitors may explore these remnants, along with the vaulted undercroft and the bishop’s private chapel, both dating from the same period.
Within the moat and ramparts, there are also 14 acres of themed gardens featuring roses, herbaceous borders, and an arboretum.
For those wishing to extend their stay, the Bishop’s Table restaurant offers a delightful experience.
3. Vicars’ Close
As Europe’s oldest planned street from the Medieval period, the remarkable Vicars’ Close was developed in the mid-14th century.
This street was established to accommodate the priests serving the cathedral, known as the Vicars Choral.
The majority of the houses present today were built by 1361, with the final constructions completed by 1412. At that time, the cathedral housed 42 vicars, each with a designated residence.
A charter issued by Elizabeth I subsequently capped this number at 20, and presently, there are 12 vicars residing on the close.
The Reformation in the 16th century allowed for clerical marriage; thus, several pairs of houses were merged to accommodate larger families.
The distinctively tall chimney stacks were added in the 15th century, coinciding with coal’s replacement of wood as the primary domestic fuel.
Each residence is adorned with the coats of arms of the Bishop and the canons from that era.
4. Wells Market Place
For over 800 years, Wells’ attractive Market Place has served as a vibrant hub, characterized by its hook shape, which turns at an acute angle at the eastern end. Here, visitors are met with the imposing Georgian Town Hall (1779). Two gateways leading to the walled ecclesiastical precinct can also be found on the east side, both designated as Grade I listed buildings.
To the south lies the Bishop’s Eye, constructed in 1450 and topped with four turrets.
The west façade features intricately designed traceried windows, niche sculptures, and coats of arms positioned above the portal.
Adjacent to the Bishop’s Eye is the Penniless Porch, built around the same period, named after the beggars who would solicit alms in this area.
Admire the elegant vegetal motifs adorning the arch, along with the coat of arms crowned by an angel.
5. Wells and Mendip Museum
This compact yet well-appointed regional museum is located in the historic Chancellors’ House, primarily constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries, but with elements dating back over 200 years prior.
The majority of the artefacts originate from the Mendip Hills, which have been inhabited since prehistoric times.
The Balch Room showcases Stone Age tools and Iron Age pottery, alongside the Medieval bones of a woman, often referred to as the “Witch of Wookey.” More information on her can be found within the museum.
The Geology Room primarily exhibits collections sourced from the Mendip Hills, including Carboniferous ferns and Jurassic ammonites and fish.
Of particular note is the Jurassic fossilized skeleton of an ichthyosaur, prominently displayed in the entrance lobby.
The Netherworld of Mendip features accounts of speleological explorations within the range’s caves, while the Wells City Gallery includes everyday artefacts that depict local life from the 1700s and 1800s.
6. St Cuthbert’s Church
Somerset’s largest parish church is so impressive that visitors sometimes confuse it with Wells Cathedral.
Originally replacing a Saxon church, this Grade I-listed monument was first constructed in the Early English Gothic style in the 1200s and later modified in the 1400s, resulting in remarkable Perpendicular architecture.
A fragment of the Early English design can still be observed in the nave’s arcade pillars.
Within the church, take a moment to admire the 15th-century panelled ceiling, which remained concealed behind plaster for 200 years until its rediscovery in the 1960s.
Additionally, visitors can view the intricately carved pulpit from 1636, featuring the coats of arms of Charles I and Charles II. The east wall reveals a fragment of a 13th-century reredos, unearthed in 1848, while another striking altarpiece representing the Tree of Jesse, crafted in 1470, can be found in the south transept. Those familiar with the film Hot Fuzz will recognize St Cuthbert’s as Sandford’s church, which notably appears in the scene where the local journalist meets his demise due to a falling pinnacle.
7. The Old Deanery
This castellated structure on Cathedral Green has historically served as the residence for the head of the Chapter of Wells Cathedral and has more recently accommodated diocesan offices.
The oldest sections of the Grade I-listed Old Deanery date back to the 12th century, with expansions made during the 15th and 17th centuries.
In the summer of 2018, it was announced that the site would be placed on the market to generate funds for new diocesan offices situated on the outskirts of the city. However, as of August 2018, visitors could still explore the Tudor-style garden, hidden behind the complex’s prominent stone wall.
This garden opens on Wednesday mornings and features the same species originally planted by the Dean and early naturalist William Turner in the mid-16th century.
8. Bishop’s Barn
Located on Silver Street, this 15th-century tithe barn was graciously gifted to the city by Bishop Lord Arthur Hervey in 1887. The Bishop’s Barn features local limestone construction with ashlar window and door dressings sourced from Doulting in the Mendip Hills.
Originally serving as a repository for grain collected as tax for the church, the Bishop’s Barn was utilized as a live music venue in the 1970s, hosting performances by bands such as Slade and Status Quo to crowds of up to 1,500. Today, the building is available for private events and is surrounded by lawns and a bandstand.
9. Mendip Hills
Wells is positioned beneath the southern ridge of Carboniferous Limestone hills, which are preserved as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
One does not need to travel far to admire the stunning landscapes of the Mendip Hills, as immediate surroundings offer captivating views back over the town and the Vale of Avalon.
The picturesque countryside is punctuated by pasture defined by dry-stone walls, while Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age monuments, such as barrows and forts, add an air of historical intrigue.
Families can engage in various activities near Wells at the nearby gorges and caves.
Furthermore, it is just a 10-minute drive to reach Pen Hill, the second highest point in the area at 305 meters above sea level.
On clear days, visitors are rewarded with breathtaking scenery that encompasses Wells and the Somerset Levels, with distant views of several ranges including the Blackdown, Quantock, and Brendon Hills.
10. Wookey Hole Caves
One of the primary attractions within the Mendip Hills, this network of caves was carved from the limestone by acidic groundwater.
Notably, the first chamber contains an unusual stalagmite that inspired a legend regarding a Medieval witch turned to stone after being splashed with holy water by a monk.
Visitors will find the caves illuminated with atmospheric lighting and maintaining a consistently cool temperature of 11°C, ideal for maturing cheddar cheese, as visitors will discover.
Above ground, remnants of a Victorian paper mill reveal how paper was historically produced by hand from cotton.
Families can enjoy the display of life-sized dinosaur models, a theatre for circus performances, and an adventure golf course featuring nine holes.
11. Ebbor Gorge
Another admirable destination in the Mendip Hills is this limestone gorge, owned by the National Trust since 1967. The Ebbor Gorge was sculpted from the Carboniferous Clifton Down Limestone by meltwater during the Pleistocene Epoch.
A full summer day could be pleasantly spent paddling in streams, exploring the woodlands, and observing the distinctive vegetation thriving in this moist environment.
The caves along the gorge have been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, yielding Neolithic flint tools, Bronze Age pottery, and human remains, along with Arctic animal bones from the last Ice Age, which include Arctic lemmings, Norway lemmings, reindeer, and steppe pikas.
12. Stoberry Park Garden
This six-acre garden located outside Wells offers a captivating view, heightened by its enchanting scenery.
Stoberry Garden sits atop high ground that overlooks the Vale of Avalon.
Accompanied by a naturalistic landscape featuring wildlife ponds, borders, a potager, a sunken garden, walled areas, and a lime walk, it provides stunning vistas of Wells Cathedral and the Vale of Avalon, with Glastonbury Tor visible in the distance.
Visitors will encounter sculptures in unexpected locations and can enjoy a vibrant display of colors from spring to autumn, as various flowers bloom sequentially, including bulbs, irises, wildflowers, roses, and salvias.
13. Milton Lodge Gardens
For those captivated by views of Wells from the Mendip Hills, another garden offers magnificent panoramas encompassing the cathedral and the Vale of Avalon.
Designed in terraces along a gradient, the Milton Lodge Gardens follow the Arts and Crafts style that emerged in the early 20th century.
Landscape planning was conducted by the great-grandfather of the current owner to maximize the breathtaking views, resulting in four terraces, a combe (little valley), and a lily pond.
These gardens are located on the grounds of an 18th-century house and provide access to an arboretum that was established at the time of the house’s construction.
The gardens are open to visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays, from Easter until the end of October.
14. Mendip Hospital Cemetery
Having closed in 1991, the Mendip Hospital was established in 1848 as the “Somerset and Bath Pauper Lunatic Asylum.” In 1873, the hospital purchased a parcel of land off the Bath Road in Wells to serve as a cemetery, which has since been maintained by volunteers as a nature reserve.
A total of approximately 2,900 individuals were interred here, primarily those with psychiatric conditions, many of whom received anonymous burials, the last occurring over 50 years ago.
The cemetery is regularly accessible, featuring a restored chapel that hosts a small, poignant exhibition detailing the history of the asylum.
15. Wells Outdoor Market
The historic Market Place remains an active site for outdoor trading on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year.
Shop here for specialty foods, fresh produce, books, clothing, fabrics, games, accessories, and seasonal gifts during the holiday period.
The right to conduct markets in Wells dates back to the era of Bishop Robert in the 12th century, and part of this enduring tradition includes the Charter Fair, featuring fairground rides and amusements staged in the Market Place in May and again in November for the Carnival Fair.
