Wells Cathedral: A Photo Essay

A Note to the Reader: 

On our trip we were able to see six cathedrals in total. We visited Exeter on the day before the walk. During the walk we visited, in order: Wells, Salisbury, Winchester, Rochester, and Canterbury (we took rest days at Wells, Salisbury, and Canterbury, which encouraged more photographs!). Each cathedral is lovely in its own right and, for all but Rochester, we took many, many pictures—far too many to feature in our regular walking-day posts. So we've decided to include some photo posts dedicated to these magnificent buildings. 

Wells Cathedral

Dedicated to St. Andrew

Diocese of Bath & Wells founded 909

Built 1186, consecrated 1239; remodeling in 14th (east end) & 15th centuries (west end and towers) 

The amazing west front with its enormous sculpture gallery, home to an impressive collection of medieval and restored sculpture (it originally had places for 340 figures). The only thing that seems to be lacking are "crowns" on the west towers—whether finished with spires or at least corner pinacles. But the overall effect of the giant sculpture-screen is hugely impressive nonetheless.

And on closer inspection, the scupture-work is outstanding (see below):
 

Something we hadn't seen before at other cathedrals was this unique bridge which spans the street to join the north transept of the cathedral and chapter house (just off left edge of the picture) to Vicar's Close, a medieval street where cathedral clergy lived. A later picture shows the view from inside.




The nave, looking east. The famous "scissor-arches" were added in the 1340s to stabilise the crossing, which was straining under the weight of the central tower—a marvelous bit of medieval engineering.

Here is a closer look at the scissor arches from two vantage points near the crossing, the picture below looking up into the tower crossing's vault—which is late medieval fan vaulting.

The famous stairs to the bridge over the street to Vicar's Close (straight ahead) and the double-arched entrance to the Chapter House (just visible on the right)—the treads worn by centuries' use.

 Here is the entrance to the Chapter House (from inside), with its delicate stone tracework above. It was completed in 1310.

It was rather difficult to get a good picture of the Chapter House interior (our camera's lens isn't "wide" enough), but it is a beautiful structure with its lovely central pillar fanning out like a palm tree to meet the vaults coming from the eight sides (see also below).

Our tour also included a stop in the north transept to see Wells' famous fourteenth-century astronomical clock chime the hour. The face shows the 24 hour time as well as the motion of sun and moon and phases of the latter. At the hour, "Jack Blandifers"(right) chimes the hours while knights (just visible at the top of the clock on the left) have a jousting match—the same unlucky one losing every time!

Our tour guide also showed us some of the whimsy of the medieval masons. Sara's excellent picture shows a man with a toothache (left) and another pulling a thorn out of his foot (right).

On a more serious note, here is an example of a 15th century "cadaver tomb" of a bishop, illustrating the lesson that no matter the finery and lofty position one reaches in this life, the agony of death awaits—surely an antidote to an undue pride in one's wealth and accomplishments!

Here are two pictures of the Choir, where we enjoyed a beautiful evensong service. The choir vault itself was quite extraordinary with its lovely decorative tracery.

Finally, we loved the Lady Chapel at the east end of the cathedral with its forest of slender columns leading upwards to sharp gothic arches and, at the very east end, to its magnificent trio of windows.

We loved our visit to Wells and its cathedral, and hope to visit again!