Editing Wells, Somerset (section)

==History==
[[File:The Wells, Bishop's Palace Gardens - Wells - geograph.org.uk - 986021.jpg|alt=Pool of water in an area of trees and shrubs. In the background is the cathedral.|thumb|right|One of the three wells which give the city its name; two are located in the gardens of the Bishop's Palace (as shown) and one in the Market Place.]]

The city was a [[Roman Britain|Roman]] settlement that became an important centre under the Anglo-Saxons when [[Ine of Wessex|King Ine]] of [[Wessex]] founded a minster church in 704.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/churches/wellscath.html |title=Wells Cathedral |publisher=Britania.com |access-date=23 January 2010 |archive-date=4 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704151157/http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/churches/wellscath.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Two hundred years later, in 909, it became the seat of the newly formed [[Bishop of Bath and Wells|bishopric of Wells]]; but in 1090, the bishop's seat was removed to [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]. The move caused severe arguments between the canons of Wells and the monks of Bath until 1245 when the bishopric was renamed the [[Diocese of Bath and Wells]], to be elected by both religious houses. With the construction of the [[Wells Cathedral|current cathedral]] and the [[Bishop's Palace, Wells|bishop's palace]] in the first half of the 13th century, under the direction of [[Reginald Fitz Jocelin|Bishop Reginald]] and later [[Jocelin of Wells|Bishop Jocelin]], a native of the city, Wells became the principal seat of the diocese.

The 8th-century port at [[Bleadney]] on the [[River Axe (Bristol Channel)|River Axe]] enabled goods to be brought to within {{cvt|3|mi|km|0}} of Wells. In the [[Middle Ages]] overseas trade was carried out from the port of [[Rackley]]. In the 14th century a French ship sailed up the river, and by 1388 Thomas Tanner from Wells used Rackley to export cloth and [[Cereal|corn]] to Portugal, and received iron and [[Edible salt|salt]] in exchange.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Toulson |first=Shirley |title=The Mendip Hills: A Threatened Landscape |year=1984 |publisher=Victor Gollancz |location=London |isbn=0-575-03453-X}}</ref> Wells had been a centre for cloth making; however, in the 16th and 17th centuries this diminished, but the city retained its important market focus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/24810 |title=Medieval town, Wells |work=Somerset Historic Environment Record |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=3 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003115929/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/24810 |url-status=live}}</ref> Wells in the 19th century had the largest cheese market in the west of England.<ref name="gathercole"/>

Wells was listed in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''Welle'', from the [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|wiells}},<ref>{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Stephen |title=Somerset Place Names |year=1992 |publisher=The Dovecote Press Ltd |location=Wimbourne |isbn=978-1-874336-03-7}}</ref> not as a town but as four manors with a population of 132, which implies a population of 500–600.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Havinden |first=Michael |title=The Somerset Landscape |year=1982 |publisher=[[Hodder & Stoughton]] |location=London |series=The making of the English landscape |pages=210 |isbn=0-340-20116-9}}</ref> Earlier names for the settlement have been identified which include ''Fontanetum'',<ref name="latin">{{Cite web |url=http://comp.uark.edu/~mreynold/recint2.htm#F |title=A List of the Latin Names of Places in Great Britain and Ireland |publisher=White Trash Scriptorium |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205071944/http://comp.uark.edu/~mreynold/recint2.htm#F |url-status=dead}}</ref> in a charter of 725 granted by King Ina to [[Glastonbury]] and {{lang|la|Fontanensis Ecclesia}}.<ref name="latin"/> "''Tidesput''" or "''Tithesput furlang''" relates to the area east of the bishop's garden in 1245.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Wells Cathedral |last=Reid |first=R.D. |year=1963 |publisher=Friends of Wells Cathedral |isbn=0-902321-11-0 |pages=10}}</ref> Wells was part of, and gave its name to, the [[hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[Wells Forum]].

Wells had been granted charters to hold markets by [[Robert of Bath|Bishop Robert]] (1136–66) and free [[burgage]] tenure was granted by [[Reginald Fitz Jocelin|Bishop Reginald]] (1174–1191).<ref name="gathercole">{{Cite web |url=http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/Somerset_EUS_Wells.pdf |title=An archaeological assessment of Wells |last=Gathercole |first=Clare |work=English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429222843/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/Somerset_EUS_Wells.pdf |archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> Wells was recognised as a free [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] by a Royal charter of [[John of England|King John]] in 1201. The city remained under episcopal control until its charter of incorporation from Queen [[Elizabeth I]] in 1589.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Havinden |first=Michael |title=The Somerset Landscape |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London |series=The making of the English landscape |pages=114 |isbn=0-340-20116-9 |year=1981}}</ref><ref>[http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=the-council Wells City Council] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101105021/http://www.wells.gov.uk/index.php?page=the-council |date=1 January 2015 }} The Council</ref> City status was most recently confirmed by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] by [[letters patent]] issued under the [[Great Seal of the Realm|Great Seal]] dated 1 April 1974, which granted [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]] specifically to the [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]];<ref name="lg0474">London Gazette, issue no. 46255, 4 April 1974</ref><ref name="curio">{{Cite book |title=Curiosities of Somerset |last=Leete-Hodge |first=Lornie |year=1985 |publisher=Bossiney Books |location=Bodmin |isbn=0-906456-98-3 |pages=29}}</ref> on that date major local government reorganisation came into effect, which involved the abolition of the [[municipal borough]] of Wells.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10220592/relationships Vision of Britain] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213185257/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10220592/relationships |date=13 December 2013 }} Wells MB</ref>

[[Anne of Denmark]], the wife of [[James VI and I|King James]] came to Wells on 20 August 1613. She was entertained by a pageant performed by the town's trades and crafts. The blacksmiths presented Vulcan's forge. The butchers made a tableau of "old virgins", with their attires made of cow tails and necklaces made of cow's horns, who were drawn in a chariot by men and boys dressed in ox skins. The mayor, William Bull, held a dinner for members of the queen's household including her four maids of honour.<ref>John Nichols, ''Progresses of James the First'', vol. 2 (London, 1828), pp. 672-5.</ref> The Venetian ambassador [[Antonio Foscarini]] recorded her delight.<ref>Allen Hinds, ''Calendar State Papers, Venice: 1613-1615'', vol. 13 (London, 1907), pp. 36-7 no. 70.</ref>

During the [[English Civil War]] (1642–1651), at what became known as the "[[Siege of Wells]]", the city found itself surrounded by Parliamentarian guns on the Bristol, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet sides. Col. [[William Strode (of Barrington)|William Strode]] had 2,000 men and 150 horse. The Royalists evacuated the city. Parliamentarian troops then used the cathedral to stable their horses and damaged much of the ornate sculpture by using it for firing practice.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/history/presentbuilding/changesofmonarch.shtml |title=Changes of Monarch |work=History |publisher=Wells Cathedral |access-date=15 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311034401/http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/history/presentbuilding/changesofmonarch.shtml |archive-date=11 March 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[William Penn]] stayed in Wells shortly before leaving for America (1682), spending a night at The Crown Inn. Here he was briefly arrested for addressing a large crowd in the market place, but released on the intervention of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/memoirsprivatea00penngoog |quote=william penn wells. |title=Memoirs of the Private and Public Life of William Penn |pages=[https://archive.org/details/memoirsprivatea00penngoog/page/n65 57] |year=1827 |last=Clarkson |first=Thomas |publisher=S.C. Stevens |access-date=28 November 2009}}</ref> During the [[Monmouth Rebellion]] (1685) the rebel army attacked the cathedral in an outburst against the [[state religion|established church]] and damaged the west front. Lead from the roof was used to make bullets, windows were broken, the organ smashed and horses stabled in the nave.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Monmouthreb.htm |title=The Monmouth Rebellion and the Bloody Assize |work=Aspects of Somerset History |publisher=Somerset Archive & Record Service |access-date=1 March 2009 |archive-date=29 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829142340/http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Monmouthreb.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Wells was the final location of the [[Bloody Assizes]] on 23 September 1685. In a makeshift court lasting only one day, over 500 men were tried and the majority sentenced to death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bloody Assize |work=Somerset Archive & Record Service |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Bloodyassize.htm |access-date=9 October 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183526/http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Bloodyassize.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Vicars Close Wells Somerset.jpg|alt=Street scene. Terraces of old red brick houses on either side of the road. At the far end is a building with arches and small tower. Beyond can be seen the cathedral tower.|thumb|right|[[Vicars' Close, Wells|Vicars' Close]] facing the cathedral]]
Wells first station, [[Wells (Priory Road) railway station|Priory Road]], opened in 1859 on the Somerset Central Railway (later the [[Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway]], S&DJR) as the terminus of a short branch from [[Glastonbury & Street railway station|Glastonbury]].<ref name="sdjrwells">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sdjr.net/locations/wells.html |title=Wells |publisher=Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=7 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107021240/http://www.sdjr.net/locations/wells.html |url-status=usurped}}</ref> A second railway, the [[East Somerset Railway|East Somerset]], opened a branch line from [[Witham (Somerset) railway station|Witham]] in 1862 and built [[Wells East Somerset railway station|Wells East Somerset station]] to the east of Priory Road.<ref name="sdjrwells"/> In 1870, the [[Cheddar Valley line]] branch of the [[Bristol & Exeter Railway]] from [[Yatton railway station|Yatton]], reached Wells and built a third station at [[Wells (Tucker Street) railway station|Tucker Street]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Oakley |first=Mike |title=Somerset Railway Stations |publisher=Dovecote Press |location=Wimborne |year=2002 |pages=126}}</ref> Matters were simplified when the [[Great Western Railway]] acquired the Cheddar Valley and the East Somerset lines and built a link between them that ran through the S&DJR's Priory Road station. In 1878, when through trains began running between Yatton and Witham, the East Somerset station closed, but through trains did not stop at Priory Road until 1934. Priory Road closed to passenger traffic in 1951 when the S&DJR branch line from Glastonbury was shut, though it remained the city's main goods depot. Tucker Street closed in 1963 under the [[Beeching cuts]], which closed the Yatton to Witham line to passengers. Goods traffic to Wells ceased in 1964. [[SR West Country and Battle of Britain classes|Southern Railway West Country class]] steam locomotive no 34092 was named ''City of Wells'' at a ceremony at Priory Road station in 1949. It was used to haul the ''[[Golden Arrow (train)|Golden Arrow]]'' service between [[London Victoria railway station|London]] and [[Dover Western Docks railway station|Dover]]. It was withdrawn from service in 1964, and rescued from a scrapyard in 1971, and as August 2021 was operational on the [[East Lancashire Railway]].<ref>[https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-locomotives/ Meet the Locomotives] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807061241/https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-locomotives/ |date=7 August 2021 }} [[East Lancashire Railway]]</ref>

During [[World War II]], Stoberry Park in Wells was the location of a [[prisoner-of-war camp]], housing Italian prisoners from the [[Western Desert Campaign]], and later German prisoners after the [[Operation Cobra|Battle of Normandy]]. Penleigh Camp on the [[Wookey Hole]] Road was a German working camp.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Prisoner_of_War_Camps.pdf |title=Prisoner of War Camps(1939–1948) |last=Thomas |first=Roger JC |publisher=[[English Heritage]] |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=29 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929073436/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Prisoner_of_War_Camps.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>