| Wells | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photograph of Wells | |
  Wells Location withinSomerset | |
 Interactive map of Wells | |
| Population | 11,145 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | ST545455 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WELLS |
| Postcode district | BA5 |
| Dialling code | 01749 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 51°12′34″N02°38′42″W / 51.20944°N 2.64500°W /51.20944; -2.64500 | |
Wells (/wɛlz/)[1] is acathedral city andcivil parish inSomerset, located on the southern edge of theMendip Hills, 21 miles (34 km) south-east ofWeston-super-Mare, 22 mi (35 km) south-west ofBath and 23 mi (37 km) south ofBristol. Although the population recorded in the 2021 census was only 11,145, and with a built-up area of just 3.244 km2 (1.253 sq mi),[2] Wells has had city status since medieval times, because of the presence ofWells Cathedral. Often described asEngland's smallest city,[3][4] it is actually the second smallest to theCity of London in area and population, but unlike London it is not part of a largerurban agglomeration.
Wells takes its name from threeholy wells dedicated toSaint Andrew that lie within the grounds of theBishop's Palace and cathedral and supply water to the marketplace.[5] A small Roman settlement surrounded them, which grew in importance and size under theAnglo-Saxons when KingIne of Wessex founded aminster church there in 704. The community became a trading centre based on cloth making and Wells is notable for its 17th-century involvement in both theEnglish Civil War and theMonmouth Rebellion. In the 19th century, transport infrastructure improved with stations on three different railway lines. However, following theBeeching axe in 1964 the city has been without a railway link.
The cathedral and the associated religious and medieval architectural history provide much of the employment. The city has a variety of sporting and cultural activities and houses several schools includingThe Blue School, a state coeducational comprehensive school that was founded in 1641, and the privateWells Cathedral School, which was founded possibly as early as 909 and is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children in the United Kingdom. Wells's historic architecture has led to the city being used as a shooting location for numerous films and television programmes.[6]
The city was aRoman settlement that became an important centre under the Anglo-Saxons whenKing Ine ofWessex founded a minster church in 704.[7] Two hundred years later, in 909, it became the seat of the newly formedbishopric of Wells; but in 1090, the bishop's seat was removed toBath. The move caused severe arguments between the canons of Wells and the monks of Bath until 1245 when the bishopric was renamed theDiocese of Bath and Wells, to be elected by both religious houses. With the construction of thecurrent cathedral and thebishop's palace in the first half of the 13th century, under the direction ofBishop Reginald and laterBishop Jocelin, a native of the city, Wells became the principal seat of the diocese.
The 8th-century port atBleadney on theRiver Axe enabled goods to be brought to within 3 mi (5 km) of Wells. In theMiddle Ages overseas trade was carried out from the port ofRackley. In the 14th century a French ship sailed up the river, and by 1388 Thomas Tanner from Wells used Rackley to export cloth andcorn to Portugal, and received iron andsalt in exchange.[8] Wells had been a centre for cloth making; however, in the 16th and 17th centuries this diminished, but the city retained its important market focus.[9] Wells in the 19th century had the largest cheese market in the west of England.[10]
Wells was listed in theDomesday Book of 1086 asWelle, from theOld Englishwiells,[11] not as a town but as four manors with a population of 132, which implies a population of 500–600.[12] Earlier names for the settlement have been identified which includeFontanetum,[13] in a charter of 725 granted by King Ina toGlastonbury andFontanensis Ecclesia.[13] "Tidesput" or "Tithesput furlang" relates to the area east of the bishop's garden in 1245.[14] Wells was part of, and gave its name to, thehundred ofWells Forum.
Wells had been granted charters to hold markets byBishop Robert (1136–66) and freeburgage tenure was granted byBishop Reginald (1174–1191).[10] Wells was recognised as a freeborough by a Royal charter ofKing John in 1201. The city remained under episcopal control until its charter of incorporation from QueenElizabeth I in 1589.[15][16] City status was most recently confirmed by QueenElizabeth II byletters patent issued under theGreat Seal dated 1 April 1974, which grantedcity status specifically to thecivil parish;[17][18] on that date major local government reorganisation came into effect, which involved the abolition of themunicipal borough of Wells.[19]
Anne of Denmark, the wife ofKing James came to Wells on 20 August 1613. She was entertained by a pageant performed by the town's trades and crafts. The blacksmiths presented Vulcan's forge. The butchers made a tableau of "old virgins", with their attires made of cow tails and necklaces made of cow's horns, who were drawn in a chariot by men and boys dressed in ox skins. The mayor, William Bull, held a dinner for members of the queen's household including her four maids of honour.[20] The Venetian ambassadorAntonio Foscarini recorded her delight.[21]
During theEnglish Civil War (1642–1651), at what became known as the "Siege of Wells", the city found itself surrounded by Parliamentarian guns on the Bristol, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet sides. Col.William Strode had 2,000 men and 150 horse. The Royalists evacuated the city. Parliamentarian troops then used the cathedral to stable their horses and damaged much of the ornate sculpture by using it for firing practice.[22]
William Penn stayed in Wells shortly before leaving for America (1682), spending a night at The Crown Inn. Here he was briefly arrested for addressing a large crowd in the market place, but released on the intervention of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.[23] During theMonmouth Rebellion (1685) the rebel army attacked the cathedral in an outburst against theestablished church and damaged the west front. Lead from the roof was used to make bullets, windows were broken, the organ smashed and horses stabled in the nave.[24] Wells was the final location of theBloody Assizes on 23 September 1685. In a makeshift court lasting only one day, over 500 men were tried and the majority sentenced to death.[25]
Wells first station,Priory Road, opened in 1859 on the Somerset Central Railway (later theSomerset & Dorset Joint Railway, S&DJR) as the terminus of a short branch fromGlastonbury.[26] A second railway, theEast Somerset, opened a branch line fromWitham in 1862 and builtWells East Somerset station to the east of Priory Road.[26] In 1870, theCheddar Valley line branch of theBristol & Exeter Railway fromYatton, reached Wells and built a third station atTucker Street.[27] Matters were simplified when theGreat Western Railway acquired the Cheddar Valley and the East Somerset lines and built a link between them that ran through the S&DJR's Priory Road station. In 1878, when through trains began running between Yatton and Witham, the East Somerset station closed, but through trains did not stop at Priory Road until 1934. Priory Road closed to passenger traffic in 1951 when the S&DJR branch line from Glastonbury was shut, though it remained the city's main goods depot. Tucker Street closed in 1963 under theBeeching cuts, which closed the Yatton to Witham line to passengers. Goods traffic to Wells ceased in 1964.Southern Railway West Country class steam locomotive no 34092 was namedCity of Wells at a ceremony at Priory Road station in 1949. It was used to haul theGolden Arrow service betweenLondon andDover. It was withdrawn from service in 1964, and rescued from a scrapyard in 1971, and as August 2021 was operational on theEast Lancashire Railway.[28]
DuringWorld War II, Stoberry Park in Wells was the location of aprisoner-of-war camp, housing Italian prisoners from theWestern Desert Campaign, and later German prisoners after theBattle of Normandy. Penleigh Camp on theWookey Hole Road was a German working camp.[29]
Wells City Council is aparish council, with a membership of sixteen councillors, elected from threeparish wards. They are (with the number of parish councillors each elects, in brackets): Central (four), St. Thomas' (six) and St. Cuthbert's (six).[30][31]
Thecivil parish of Wells was formed in 1933[32] upon the merger ofWells St Cuthbert In andWells St Andrew (the latter being the historic liberty of the cathedral, the bishop's palace, etc., amounting to just 52 acres (21 ha)).[33] Wells is thesuccessor parish for Wells Municipal Borough, which existed from the creation ofmunicipal boroughs in 1835 to their abolition in 1974.[34] The parish has held thecity status of Wells since 1 April 1974[17] (previously held by the municipal borough) and the member of the City Council who chairs the council holds the historic office of Mayor of Wells, typically for one year. The current mayor (for the 2024-25 municipal year) is Councillor Jasmine Browne, who is the 650th Mayor of Wells. She assumed office on 18th May 2024.[35] Another historic position is that of theTown Crier.[36]
The City Council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. They also evaluate local planning applications and work with the local police, district council officers, andneighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. This includes city centre management includingCCTV, an alcohol ban and regulating street trading permissions including the two funfairs held in the Market Place in May and November each year and the Wells in Bloom competition.[31] The city council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of city facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. They are involved in the management of the Community Sports Development Centre at the Blue School, theskateboard park andallotments in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace, Burcott Road and Barnes Close. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.[31]
Wells Town Hall was built in 1778, with the porch and arcade being added in 1861 and the balcony and round windows in 1932. It is a Grade IIlisted building.[37] It replaced the former on the site of the Market and Assize Hall in the Market Place,[38] and a Canonical House also known as 'The Exchequer', on the authority of an Act of Parliament dated 1779. The building also houses the magistrates courts and other offices. TheAssize court last sat here in October 1970.[37]
All other local government services are provided bySomerset Council, aunitary authority established in April 2023. Prior to this date, Wells elected five councillors toMendip District Council from the same three wards as are used for the City Council (two were returned from St Cuthbert's, two from St Thomas' and one from Central).[39] Wells is an electoral division (with the same boundaries as the civil parish) of Somerset and returns two councillor to Somerset Council, but returned one to its predecessorSomerset County Council.[40] Wells is part of theWells and Mendip Hills constituency.
The Wells city arms show anash tree surrounded by threewater wells, crested with a goldmural crown, with theLatin mottoHoc fonte derivata copia (translated: "the fullness that springs from this well").[41]
The council formalisedtwinning links withParay-le-Monial, France, andBad Dürkheim, Germany in 1979, then addedFontanellato, Italy in 1983; the Wells Twinning Association and the Mayor of Wells organise the twinning activities.[42]
HMS Somerset,Mary Bignal-Rand,Danny Nightingale,The Rifles and the lateHarry Patch have theFreedom of the City.[43][44][45] TheSomerset Light Infantry received the freedom of the City of Wells following their return fromCyprus in 1956.[46]
As the seat of an ancient cathedral anddiocese, Wells is historically regarded as a city.[47] City status was most recently confirmed by Queen Elizabeth II by letters patent dated 1 April 1974, which granted city status specifically to the civil parish.[17] As the designation is typically awarded to a local council area,[48] this administrative area is then considered to be the formal boundary of the city, including its urban and rural extents. Wells, due to itsurban area and wider parish sizes, is near-smallest city on several measures based on 2011 statistics:[49]
Wells lies at the foot of the southern escarpment of theMendip Hills where they meet theSomerset Levels. The hills are largely made ofcarboniferous limestone, which is quarried at several nearby sites. In the 1960s, theMendip television transmitter, was installed onPen Hill above Wells,[citation needed] approximately two miles (three kilometres) from the centre of the city.
Streams passing throughcaves on the Mendip Hills, includingThrupe Lane Swallet andViaduct Sink (approximately 5 km or 3 mi east of the city), emerge at Saint Andrew's Well in the garden of the Bishop's Palace,[56][57][58] from where the water fills the moat around the Palace and then flows into Keward Brook, which carries it for approximately a mile west to the point where the brook joins theRiver Sheppey in the village ofCoxley.[59]
Along with the rest ofSouth West England, the Mendip Hills have atemperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of England. The annual mean temperature is about 10 °C (50 °F) with seasonal anddiurnal variations, but due to the modifying effect of the sea, the range is less than in most other parts of the United Kingdom. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 and 2 °C (34 and 36 °F). July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (70 °F). In general, December is the dullest month and June the sunniest. The south west of England enjoys a favoured location, particularly in summer, when theAzores High extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK.[60]
Cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, and reduces exposure to sunshine. The average annual sunshine totals around 1600 hours.Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlanticdepressions or with convection. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower clouds and a large proportion of the annual precipitation falls from showers andthunderstorms at this time of year. Average rainfall is around 800–900 mm (31–35 in). About 8–15 days ofsnowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest. The predominant wind direction is from the south west.[60]
The civil parish of Wells is entirely surrounded by the parish ofSt Cuthbert Out.
The population of the civil parish, recorded in the2011 census, was 10,536.[61] Of this number 97.5% are ethnically White (with the more specific White British category recorded at 93.5%)[62] and 66.5% described themselves as Christian.[63] The mean average age in 2011 was 41.9 years (the median age being 43).[64]
| Census | Population | Households | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 10,406 | [65] | |
| 2011 | 10,536 | [61] | |
| 2021 | 11,145 | 5,362 | [66] |
Following construction of theA39/A371 bypass, the centre of the city has returned to being that of a quietmarket town. It has all the modern conveniences plus shops, hotels and restaurants.[67] Wells is a popular tourist destination, due to its historical sites,[68] its proximity toBath,Bristol,Stonehenge and Glastonbury and its closeness to the Somerset coast. Also nearby areWookey Hole Caves, theMendip Hills and theSomerset Levels. Somerset cheese, includingCheddar, is made locally. Wells is part of the Wells and Shepton Mallettravel to work area which also includes Glastonbury, Cheddar and surrounding areas.[69]
The historic part of the city has often been used for filming both documentaries and many period films and television series, including some with very large productions.[70] Recent examples (2014 to 2017) include filming for Series 2 ofPoldark,Dunkirk,Another Mother's Son,Broadchurch,The Levelling,Mum's List, andThe White Princess.[71] In addition toWells Cathedral, theBishop's Palace, Wells is particularly popular among productions, with filming at the latter conducted (in 2015–2016) forThe Huntsman: Winter's War,Galavant, Terry and Mason'sThe Great British Food Trip,Escape to the Country, andHoliday of My Lifetime.[72]
Wells is situated at the junction of three numbered routes. TheA39 goes north-east to Bath and south-west toGlastonbury andBridgwater. TheA371 goes north-west toCheddar andWeston-super-Mare, and east toShepton Mallet. The B3139 goes west toHighbridge, and north-east toRadstock andTrowbridge. The nearest motorway connections are at junction 23 on theM5 via theA39 and at junction 1 of theM32 via the A39 andA37.[73]
Wells is served byFirst West of England bus services toBristol andBristol Temple Meads station,Bath,Frome,Shepton Mallet,Yeovil,Street andWeston-super-Mare, as well as providing some local service. It is served byBerrys Coaches daily Superfast service to and from London.[74] The bus station is in Princes Road. TheMendip Way andMonarch's Way long-distance footpaths pass through the city, as doesNational Cycle Route 3.[75]
Wells had two stations which were closed by theBeeching Axe in the 1960s:Wells (Tucker Street) railway station andWells (Priory Road) railway station. The nearest railway line today is theEast Somerset Railway.
The nearest station today for the national rail network isCastle Cary, 12 miles (19 km) away.[76]Bristol Temple Meads railway station is accessible via the 376 bus route; the journey time is around one hour.[76]
The Blue School, founded in 1641,[77] is a statecoeducationalcomprehensive school and has been awardedSpecialist science college status. It has 1,641 students aged 11–18 of both sexes and all ability levels.[78]
Wells Cathedral School, founded in 909, is aprivate school that has a Christian emphasis and is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children inBritain. The school teaches over 700pupils between the ages of 3 and 18. The school'sboarding houses line the northern parts of the city and the music school retains close links with Wells Cathedral.[79] The primary schools in Wells are Stoberry Park School, St Cuthbert's Church of England Infants School, St Cuthbert's Church of England Junior School and St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School.
Wells and Mendip Museum includes many historical artefacts from the city and surroundingMendip Hills.[80] Wells is part of theWest Country Carnival circuit.[81]
Wells Film Centre shows current releases and, in conjunction with the Wells Film Society shows less well known and historical films.[82] The previous cinema, The Regal in Priory Road, closed in 1993 and is now Kudos Nightclub. It was built in 1935 by ES Roberts fromFlemish bond brickwork withArt Deco features. It is a Grade IIlisted building,[83] and was on theBuildings at Risk Register until its restoration which included the restoration and repair of thestained glass façade.[84] Wells Little Theatre is operated by a voluntary society which started in 1902. In 1969 they took over the old boy's building of Wells Blue School, where they put on a variety of operatic and other productions.[85]
Milton Lodge is a house overlooking the city. It has a terraced garden, which was laid out in the early 20th century, is listed as Grade II on theRegister of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England.[86]
Television programmes and local news is provided byBBC West andITV West Country.Local radio stations areBBC Radio Somerset,Heart West, andGreatest Hits Radio South West.The city is served by these local newspapers:Wells Voice,[87]The Somerset County Gazette andSomersetLive.
A walled precinct, theLiberty of St Andrew, encloses the twelfth-centuryCathedral, theBishop's Palace, the Vicar's Close, and residences of the clergy who serve the cathedral. Entrances include thePenniless Porch,[88] the Bishop's Eye[89] andBrown's Gatehouse[90] which were all built around 1450.
TheChurch of St Cuthbert has a Somerset stone tower and a carved roof. Originally an Early English building (13th century), it was much altered in thePerpendicular period.[18] The nave's coloured ceiling was repainted in 1963 at the instigation of the then Vicar's wife, Mrs Barnett.[91][92] Until 1561 the church had a central tower which either collapsed or was removed, and has been replaced with the current tower over the west door.[93] Bells were cast for the tower by Roger Purdy.[94]
Thepolychromatic stoneChurch of St Thomas was built during 1856 and 1857 and extended bySamuel Sanders Teulon in 1864, commemorating the work ofRichard Jenkyns theDean of Wells who had cared for the poor in the east of the city.[95][96]
Wells Vineyard Church is an Evangelical Church formed in 2003.[97]
The cathedral is theseat of theChurch of EnglandDiocese of Bath and Wells. Wells has been an ecclesiastical city of importance since at least the early 8th century. Parts of the building date back to the tenth century, and it is a grade I listed building.[98] It is known for its fine fan vaulted ceilings, Lady Chapel and windows, and the scissor arches which support the central tower. The west front is said to be the finest collection of statuary in Europe,[99] retaining almost 300 of its original medieval statues,[100] carved from the cathedral's warm, yellowDoulting stone.[101] The Chapter House, at the top of a flight of stone stairs, leading out from the north transept is an octagonal building with a fan-vaulted ceiling.[102] It is here that the business of running the cathedral is still conducted by the members of the Chapter, the cathedral's ruling body.Wells Cathedral clock is famous for its 24-hour astronomical dial and set of jousting knights that perform every quarter-hour. The cathedral has the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. The tenor bell weighs just over 56 cwt (6,272 lb, 2,844 kg).[103]
TheVicars' Close is the oldest residential street in Europe.[18] The Close is tapered by 10 ft (3.0 m) to make it look longer when viewed from the bottom. When viewed from the top, however, it looks shorter.[104][105][106][107][108][109]The Old Deanery dates from the 12th century,[110][111][112] andSt John's Priory from the 14th.[113] The street is owned by Wells Cathedral.
The Bishop's Palace has been the home of the bishops of theDiocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The hall and chapel date from the 14th century.[114] There are 14 acres (5.7 ha) of gardens including the springs from which the city takes its name. Visitors can also see the Bishop's private chapel, ruined great hall and the gatehouse with portcullis and drawbridge beside whichmute swans ring a bell for food.[115] TheBishop's Barn was built in the 15th century.[116]
The city has two football clubs, one beingWells City F.C., past winners of theWestern League.[117] Belrose FC play their football in theMid-Somerset Football League at Haybridge Park. Wells Cricket Club runs eight sides across senior, junior and women's cricket; they are based atSouth Horrington.[118] Wells Wanderers Cricket Club are based inMeare.[119]Rowdens Road Cricket Ground was afirst-class venue. No longer a cricket ground, it is now occupied in part by Wells FC.
Mid-SomersetHockey Club and Wells City Acorns Hockey Club both play on theAstroturf pitches at the Blue School,[120] where several other sports clubs are based.[121] Wells Leisure Centre has a 25 m (82 ft) swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, sauna, steam room, relaxation area and solarium.[122] The 18-hole Wells Golf Club is on the outskirts of the city and also has a 24-bay driving range with optional grass tees.[123]
Elizabeth Goudge used Wells as a basis for the fictional cathedral city of Torminster, in her bookA City of Bells (1936), and its two sequelsSister of the Angels (1939) andHenrietta's House (1942:The Blue Hills, USA title).[124]
Wells has been used as the setting for several films including:The Canterbury Tales (1973),[125]A Fistful of Fingers (1994),[126]The Gathering (2003),[127]The Libertine (2004),[128]The Golden Age (2007),[128] andHot Fuzz (2007, as Sandford).[129] The cathedral interior stood in forSouthwark Cathedral during filming for theDoctor Who episode "The Lazarus Experiment",[128] and was also used as an interior location in the filmJack the Giant Slayer (2013), and in 2017 for the film Hellboy. In 2017 the market square and town hall was used for production of the BBC series Poldark.
 |
|
Wells is England's smallest city
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)william penn wells.
Her Majesty The Queen has agreed that competitions may be held for a grant of city status and a grant of Lord Mayoralty (called a Lord Provostship in Scotland) to mark Her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
1. Any local authority (district, borough, parish/town/community or unitary council) in any part of the United Kingdom which considers that its area deserves to be granted the rare honour of city status on this very special occasion is welcome to enter the competition....
3. Applications may only be made by an elected local authority – normally, in respect of the entire local authority area.
Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 547.17
Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 314.96
Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 173785.5
Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 350.25
Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 59.5
Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 129.75
During the past couple of years Wells has played host to a mix of documentaries, period and modern dramas and a Hollywood blockbuster or two. The city featured in acclaimed TV drama, Wolf Hall, The Great British Food Trip with Terry Wogan (R.I.P) and big budget film, The Huntsman to name but a few. (See a comprehensive list here.)
See the video in our story here for a glimpse of the actors filming the highly anticipated drama.[permanent dead link]
... the backdrop to many films and tv shows. Recent film work here includes
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
