Slide Shows on Cathedral and Church Architecture - by Michael G Hardy

return to home page          go to list of slide shows

 

Wells Cathedral

Details of Slide Show - by Michael G Hardy

Description of Slide Show      Timings of Slide Show

Contents, Important Dates, and Number of Slides Shown

This page has TEXT ONLY - Choose ILLUSTRATIONS by clicking here.

 

 

Description of Slide Show

 

Part One of this show starts by considering how the name of Wells originates from springs that produce vast amounts of water from the Mendips, making it an ideal place for a settlement. Indeed the Anglo-Saxons established the Market Place, and later a 15th century bishop would channel water down the city's streets. The Anglo-Saxons established a Minster Church at Wells around the year 705 and in 909 Wells was chosen as the seat for a new Bishop for Somerset. Extensive excavations have been made in recent years to find the layout of the Anglo-Saxon Cathedral, but the only item now remaining above ground is the font in the present cathedral. The history of the Diocese has been entangled with Bath since 1088 when the Bishop moved there, and this show considers the impact that the move had on Wells, which fully regained its cathedral status in 1218. We take a chronological look at the building of the present cathedral, which was started around 1180 and was completed within 60 years. It was started at the very beginning of the Early English period when Gothic principles were just starting to spread following their arrival from France at Canterbury. However somehow these ideas developed at Wells with their own unique and very sophisticated style, which was never equalled or even copied elsewhere.

In the choir only three main arcade arcade arches survive from the original work, so the transepts are really the earliest large parts to survive. In looking at them we consider their differences, as that on the North is more elaborately decorated, maybe built just a few years later, and also the side that faces the town. The North Porch was always intended to be the main entrance, and the capitals of its outside arch gives us an idea of the sort of treat in store within the nave. To me, the interior of the North Porch is a remarkable piece of work, but I fear it is hardly seen by any visitors, most of whom now just rush through it on their way out of the cathedral. We take a detailed look at the nave which has a wonderfully complete character as it was all built between 122 and 1239. It still has its elegant triforium and clerestory window openings (although these have later Perpendicular tracery). The original vaulting completes the undisturbed early Gothic atmosphere. However the most unforgettable parts for most people are surely on the main piers of the nave arcade. Each pier has 24 attached shafts and resting on them are the amazing capitals of the nave of Wells Cathedral. Those interested can literally spend hours examining these, and this show tries to include a cross section showing how they gradually developed. The earliest are pure stiff leaf foliage, then odd heads start appearing within the foliage, then small scenes, and ultimately occasional pillars portray whole stories around their capitals, by which time there is hardly any sign of foliage at all.

Next we look at the other stunning part of Wells Cathedral, the West Front. If only in terms of its unique character, this must surely be the finest West Front of any English Cathedral. This show explains how massive it is, and how the frontage width of 145 feet is expanded around the many buttresses and two side tower bases to actually provide 450 feet of wall which accommodates the largest display of 13th century sculpture in the world. This show takes a detailed look at the whole west front and each of its nine tiers of statues and sculpture. The West Front was built between 1225 and 1239, and 127 of the statues we see today were undoubtedly standing in their niches by 1248.

Part One concludes by looking at the Chapter House Undercroft and at the unforgettable Chapter House stairs.

 

Part Two starts by looking at the Chapter House itself which was completed around 1307. The vaulting is remarkable, with 32 ribs springing from the top of the sturdy central pillar. Our attention, like that of the builders of Wells Cathedral, then moves to the eastern end, where the Lady Chapel was built as a separate building between 1308 and 1320.  The Eastern arm of the cathedral was then rebuilt to link between the central crossing and the Lady Chapel. This was completed around 1340 by which time the Central Tower had been built, although its external appearance was later modernised in the mid 15th century. The weight of the tower soon caused problems in the central crossing as one pier was starting to sink. The ingenious and unusual scissor arches were devised to help support the crossing by transferring weight between piers, and these arches were built around 1350.

By 1430 the cathedral had its three towers, as the two on the sides of the west front had been extended upwards from their earlier bases. We then look at the cloisters which were not really required at all, as Wells was a secular cathedral, but they did provide useful accommodation at first floor level. They were built between 1420 and 1508. This show continues by looking at some of the glass in the cathedral, at some of the monuments, and at the very special clock, dating from 1390.

We then take a wider look around the area surrounding the cathedral, an area called 'The Liberty' rather than a cathedral close. We see the Gateways into The Liberty, and the large moated Bishop's Palace. The Vicar' Close at Wells is a wonderful survival, and we look at this together with the Vicars' Hall and their private access into the cathedral via a bridge across the public road (to avoid the distractions of the town). We then look at a few other houses in The Liberty that were connected to the life of the cathedral. Finally I end Part Two by showing that Wells has another large church, the parish church of St Cuthbert, and I maintain that anyone visiting the small city to see the cathedral should always try to find time to also visit St Cuthbert's.

 

return to top of page

 

Timings of Slide Show:

Wells Cathedral

 

Full

Version

Abridged

Version

Part One

  47 minutes

41 minutes

Part Two

  46 minutes

38 minutes

TOTAL

93 minutes

(maximum)

79 minutes

(minimum)

 

return to top of page

 

Contents, Important Dates, Number of Slides Shown

 

Please note that some of the dates quoted are only approximate

 

Part One

Subject

Date

Full

Version

Abridged

Version

Introduction

x

11

9

Anglo-Saxon Font c10C 3 2
New Building started c1180 3 3
Chancel and Transepts c1180 - c1210 14 14
North Porch c1205 or c1230 24 18
Nave c1200 - c1239 24 20
Sculptured Capitals c1200 - c1239 37 37
West Front - Introduction c1225 - c1239 13 9
West Front - Statues by Layer: x x x
    1+2+3 = Centre Gable x 7 5
    4 = Resurrection scenes x 12 9
    5+6 = Martyrs, Virgins, Saints, Confessors x 18 14
    7 = Biblical scenes (S = OT, N = NT) x 15 12
    8 = Angels x 4 3
    9 = Saints & Prophets x 7 6
West Front - Conclusion x 2 2
Chapter House Undercroft by c1280 15 10
Chapter House Stairs by c1286 11 10

Conclusion of Part One

x

2

2

Total Slides in Part One:

222

185

 

return to top of page

 

Part Two

Subject

Date

Full

Version

Abridged

Version

Chapter House by c1307 19 16
Lady Chapel c1308 - c1320 13 9
Choir rebuilding c1320 - c1340 21 17
Central Tower c1313 - c1325 7 7
Central Crossing Scissor Arches c1350 7 4
Western Towers S:c1390, N:c1425 7 5
Cloisters (replacing earlier ones) 1420 - 1508 17 14
Glass x 20 14
Monuments x 18 15
Miscellaneous x 5 4
Clock c1390 14 13
Gateways 15C 7 5
Bishop's Palace started c1230 12 8
Vicars' Close and Hall started c1348 14 10
Chain Gate and Bridge 1460 10 8
Houses in the Liberty x 10 7
Parish Church of St Cuthbert's, Wells x 9 6

Conclusion

x

5

5

Total Slides in Part Two:

215

167

 

Slide Show on "Wells Cathedral"

return to description     return to timings     return to contents etc

 

return to top of page


This page last modified on 15th December 2005