Adapted from Shepherd, Plate 97
Yellow- bishopric of which Wells was the seat
Screen Sized Version

• Tradition says King Ina founded a college of secular priests at Wells around 705, and built a church os some sort for them.
• Was a cathedral during the Anglo-Saxon period, but the seat of the bishopric was moved to Bath in 1090.
• Rebuilding begun   Bishop Robert of Lewes  (1136-1166) who built a Norman structure on the site. Present church begun by  Reginald de Bohun, Bishop of Bath between 1174-91 on a site north east of the Saxon Cathedral Major Phases of construction (1) Choir- 1175-84 (2) Transepts 1184-1205 (3) Eastern Nave 1205-10
• There is a great deal of scholarly controversy over when the Western nave and front were built- the dates range from 1220 to 1260.
• Damaged by earthquake in 1248
• Central tower raised in 1315, roofed by 1321, but began to settle and the masonry began to split soon after. Inverted arched erected to reinforce it.
• Chapter house finished in 1319, Lady Chapel in 1326
• Famous for the sculpture on the screen facade of the West Front. There has been a great deal of controversy by scholars on its iconography and meaning.
• Dimensions : Length: Total interior-383 feet, Nave-161 feet, Choir-103 feet, Main Transept-135 feet. Breadth of Nave - 38 feet , Nave including aisles -82 feet. Height: Nave- 67 feet, Choir- 67 feet, towers, 160 feet. Breadth of West  front - 47 feet.  Area 29,070 square feet (dimension from Dearmer, p 157)

Exterior

Interior

Chapter House

ENGLAND	INTRODUCTION

Last updated by JV 02/01