Wells Cathedral
Description
Wells Cathedral traces its origins to a church founded in 705 AD, but construction of the present cathedral began in 1175 under Bishop Reginald de Bohun. Built over the next three centuries, it became the first English cathedral designed entirely in the Gothic style, setting a new standard for medieval church architecture. Major additions included the magnificent west front with over 300 sculpted figures, the octagonal Chapter House, the medieval cloisters, and the unique scissor arches, which were added in the 14th century to reinforce the central tower. The cathedral also became the center of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, playing an important religious and administrative role throughout medieval England.
Today, Wells Cathedral is a Grade I listed Anglican cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. It is internationally renowned for its exceptional Gothic architecture, richly decorated west front, medieval stained glass, and one of the world's oldest working astronomical clocks, dating from the 14th century. Visitors can also explore the Chapter House, cloisters, and the nearby Vicars' Close, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in Europe. As one of Somerset's most important historic landmarks, the cathedral remains an active place of worship while welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for tours, services, concerts, and cultural events.