So it was Linda’s birthday time and we’d discussed places to head off to. Linda wanted to visit Cheddar Gorge, so we worked out a way to include a couple of other places as well. We actually ended up visiting more than we’d originally planned, but that is for a later post, for now we started off in Glastonbury and Wells. We’d looked at the weather which seemed to improve as our break went on, so we thought that it would be best to visit the two towns first, where we could hide from rain or not be worried about distance views. First we looked at places to stay, we tend to favour a Premier Inn for a little break (no sponsorship or promotion intended here), and looked at Glastonbury. However a bit of investigation showed lots of caravans, which had us scratching our heads a bit, further searching had it that the town was awash with people unable to afford homes and staying in caravans for months/years on end. We picked somewhere else but still wanted to visit as we thought it was a good town, on paper at least. So this was our starting place, parking up and heading for the tor, we enjoyed a nice leg stretch, great views and an easy walk from there back into the town. We then walked past the old abbey, the admission cost was similar to that of the Wells Cathedral so we gave that a miss and took a photo over the gate. We walked into the town and the number of rune stone, reiki healing, crystal shops left me a bit cold. So we headed off after 90 minutes from parking to leaving. Wells however was superb, a lovely city, England’s smallest but packed full of things to see. The cathedral is wonderful but St Cuthbert’s is also a fantastic place and shouldn’t be missed, especially as it plays a key part in the Hot Fuzz film, infact Wells as a whole is a key filming location for that film, which adds to the place. I’ll let the pictures below tell the story better, lets just say we liked Wells, a lot.
Starting out for Glastonbury Tor and looking back at the town, its a grey day which justified our visit to towns first, better days were to come. We’d also missed the turn off for this clear paved path when on the lanes below, but we rectified this by crossing a field with a marker post. Shoes were made dirty, and the shoes weren’t suitable for the terrain but we are well versed in being prepared and Linda was and I wasn’t so I had myself to blame.We climb the tor (which has little rock and is remarked as being a pushed up hill so not a true tor in the name) looking out here towards Exmoor and the Bristol Channel over to the rightBits of Glastonbury, flooded fields and the Mendips to the rightLinda is off to the topMore my photography causing the wonky tower on the top. There used to be a church here, all that remains is this church tyoe tower. Glastonbury town belowLots of flatlands here in Somerset. Pierced with these hills sticking up.The paved pathway down to the town, its clear how Somerset lies from this photo. Pretty flat mainly but the hills that sit here, give some good viewsAfter the tor we walked the town, this view of the abbey was over a gate but there isn’t too much here but these lovely remainsWe didn’t linger in Glastonbury, a bit like walking into a new home, you get a feeling for a place. It was a no from us. This is Wells, and we’d parked away from the centre and walked in past this church, St Cuthbert’s. At the time we didn’t recognise its link to Hot Fuzz but did appreciate the lovely lines of daffodils. Its grade 1 listed and 13th century and made of Doulting stone in the Mendips. It was struck by lightning in 1975 which caused parts to fall through the church, which may have inspired the scenes in Hot Fuzz.Stunning ceiling, repainted in the 60s I think. Its a beautiful church inside
The St Cuthbert reredos, a carved or painted screen near the alter, depicting religious scenes. These have been removed after being hidden in plaster after the reformation and were created in 1400 in the north transept and 1470 in the south
It felt wrong to leave St Cuthbert’s so quickly, although we were there for an hour, but we had more to see. Those knowing Hot Fuzz mat recognise The Crown at Wells pub to my right here, and the cathedral is peeking up at the back left. But first we head through the gate into the Bishop’s house areaThe bishop’s house is moated, a race is conducted each year around the moat in small boats.The gatehouse into the Bishop’s House, behind me is a small door in the wall, little did I know at the time was it was the entrance to the Cathedral for the BishopBishop’s House, again an entrance fee is needed beyond this point. Not for us, we were off to the CathedralThe stunning façade of Wells Cathedral, the building is around 1175-1200, and sits on previous roman and medieval churches, the footprints can be seen behind this one. When I think of Wells, I think of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, which is Blackadder 1, but I digress a little!Inside the Cathedral we walked the nave firstThe main Cathedral part, originally it didn’t include the brace scissor arches at the far end here, three were added to stop the building from collapsing inwards after the tower spire was added, they remain working since 1338!! Its a stunning interior
This is the Wells Cathedral clock, the mechanism is in the Science Museum in London and is the second oldest clock in the world. The face here certainly is that, only beaten by Salisbury Cathedral. The bit at the top spins every 15 minutes knocking down one of the horse riders each revolution, he’s been knocked over for 600 years, every 15 minutes!! The dial is simple, the outer ring is the hours, marked by the bigger star (near 2pm here). Next ring in is minutes, again a smaller star, so approaching quarter to, or 45 mins here. The middle ring is the moon phase, marked by the picture of the moon. Stupidly simple
This fella was to the right of the clock, he banged his heels on the quarter hour and hit the bell on the hour. Superb piece of craftmanship in the1300’s. I was sat mouth open watching it.
These are the steps to the Chapter House at Wells Cathedral, original from 1306 and showing the many feet that has traversed this way. Love this photo.
The chapter house, a room for meetings. the bishop would have sat at the opposite side here, the James 1st emblem above him and it gave him views of everyone in the room, even with the pillar central as that covered the doorway view. the seats around included those marked as Deans or Prebendaries, these prebendaries covered the areas surrounding the Cathedral, for many miles. Its a stunning part of the CathedralThe Bishop’s seating and choir area, seats here include the headmaster of the local Cathedral schools and other higher dean’s and church staffThe Chapter Seal box, from the 14th Century, it holds the church records and we thought it was old, but it was nothing on this…..the Cope Chest, 1170 and built in oak to hold ecclesiastical garments. It is Saxon in origin and still holds the ‘copes’ to todayThe Cathedral library, the the right you can still see the books held in chains, used on the desks belowWe’d left the Cathedral, after 3 hours inside and no doubt missing more than we saw. Next door is the Vicars CloseThe oldest continuously inhabited medieval street in Europe. Its from the 1340s and looks just superb. Its Grade 1 listed obviously and sits by the CathedralOne last look at Wells Cathedral. There is a bit more here to see in Wells so I’m sure we will be back, just a lovely place.
treksandtors 