Published on The Brunei Times
Charm through the centuries
Liz Price
Sunday, September 30, 2007
WELLS in rural Somerset takes its name not from wells, as the name suggests, but from a spring, and its claim to fame is being England's smallest city.
But it hardly seems large enough to merit the title of city; a more appropriate description would be a quaint country town nestling at the foot of the Mendip Hills in the southwest of England.
The cathedral dominates the town, overlooking the narrow streets which are lined with stone houses and thatched cottages. The urban area is surrounded by rolling farmland complete with grazing sheep, cows and horses.
Small but beautiful aptly describes Wells. It lies sheltered beneath the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, and combines a wealth of historic interest and varied architecture with its role as a thriving market centre. The population stands at about 10,000.
Wells is named after the springs which rise in the garden of the Bishop's Palace. These springs, fed from water flowing through the caves which drain the limestone Mendip Hills, are known as St Andrews well and have been a focus of religious interest for more than two thousand years.
Today's cathedral is a direct successor of a 7th century church built by Inca, King of Wessex. He had the church built near St Andrews well, but it was found to be too small, so in 1180 work began to build a new one, which was finished around 1508.
The cathedral dominates the surroundings with its 50m high tower and is a fine example of Early Gothic architecture. Inside there are massive arches and fine stained glass windows. A corridor outside the main building houses many tombs and statues. The bishops lived in the neighbouring palace, and even today it is still the private residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. In the 14th century there was a quarrel between the bishop and the borough, which led to the fortification of the Palace, with its moated walls and drawbridge.
Linked to the Cathedral by Chain Gate is the charming 14th century Vicars' Close, which is Europe's oldest complete street. It has delightful architecture and has remained unspoilt over the generations.
The old Deanery dates back to the 1200s. Wells Museum is located in a Tudor building opposite the Cathedral, and illustrates the archaeology, geology, flora and fauna of the Wells and the Mendip Hills area. It is well worth a visit as it shows the history of the area in a compact building without being too big to overwhelm you.
St Cuthberts church is the largest parish church in Somerset. Although this church only dates to the 15th century, the site was first used as a church in Saxon times. Nearby is Tucker Street which is where the workers of the wool trade used to live. The city of Wells has a long history dating back to the days of the wool trade. All the old houses are built out of local stone, and each house is different. Some of them have been taken over as part of renowned Wells Cathedral School.
On the outskirts of the city in the surrounding countryside are many thatched cottages which are a typical part of the olde English landscape.
Despite its wealth of history, Wells is also very much up to the minute in terms of its facilities, which includes a modern Leisure Centre and swimming pool, a cinema and amateur theatre, as well as a range of shops and large supermarkets, and car parks to cope with the increasing number of visitors.
Regular twice weekly markets are held in the picturesque Market Place, and there are frequent antique and craft fairs held in the town hall. These are very popular not just with tourists but with locals as well, always eager to pick up a bargain or some knickknack for their collection.
Several old coaching inns in the centre still provide high quality accommodation for visitors. The White Hart Hotel has an open fire which is a great attraction in the winter months. And there is a good choice of eating places, although (luckily) the fast food chains have not yet made an appearance. You can enjoy traditional English Sunday lunches, cream teas, or anything else that takes your fancy.
Wells is definitely a place not to be missed and is easily accessible as a day trip from the larger cities of Bristol and Bath.
The Brunei Times
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Source URL:
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/en/features/2007/09/30/charm_through_the_centuries
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