Wells Cathedral, view of the West Front
Wells Cathedral is situated in Somerset and is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. The cathedral was founded in 705 AD by King Ine of Wessex and lies on the ruins of a previous church dedicated to St Andrew. Archaeological excavations have found in the cloisters of the cathedral the ruins of the first church. The present building started in under Bishop Reginald de Bohun, but its main construction took place under Bishop Jocelyn of Wells. Bishop Jocelyn was also responsible for the construction of the Bishop’s Palace, the cloisters and the Library. He died before the new church was granted the status of cathedral in 1245. When the cathedral, including the Chapter House, was completed in 1306, the cathedral was already too small for the increasing number of worshippers and ceremonies. Bishop John Drokensford extended it; by 1326 the central tower was heightened and an eight-sided Lady Chapel was added at the eastern side. Soon after the tower extension, the pillars beneath were found to be sinking under the increased weight, so that ‘scissor arches’ – inverted strainer arches – were inserted and soon became the iconic image of Wells cathedral. There is a Medieval clock which was in place by ; the mechanism has been replaced but the clock retains its original face, which illustrates a Pre-Copernican universe with the earth at its centre. The picture was drawn by Hablot K. Browne (b. 1815), famous during the nineteenth century for being Dickens’ illustrator, and engraved by Benjamin Winkles.
Size: 4067px × 4861px
Location: Wells, Somerset, England
Photo credit: © Cameni Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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