Editing Wells, Somerset (section)

===Wells Cathedral===
{{Main|Wells Cathedral}}The cathedral is the [[Cathedra|seat]] of the [[Church of England]] [[Diocese of Bath and Wells]]. Wells has been an ecclesiastical city of importance since at least the early 8th century. Parts of the building date back to the tenth century, and it is a grade I listed building.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1382901 |desc=Cathedral Church of St Andrew, Chapter House and Cloisters |access-date=24 August 2006}}</ref> It is known for its fine fan vaulted ceilings, Lady Chapel and windows, and the scissor arches which support the central tower. The west front is said to be the finest collection of statuary in Europe,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britannia.com/travel/magical/magic6.html |title=Stop 5: Wells, Somerset |work=Britannia's Magical History Tour |publisher=Britania Travels |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-date=14 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114000446/http://britannia.com/travel/magical/magic6.html |url-status=live}}</ref> retaining almost 300 of its original medieval statues,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/history/architecture/westfront.shtml |title=The West Front |publisher=Wells Cathedral |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120184410/http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/history/architecture/westfront.shtml |archive-date=20 January 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> carved from the cathedral's warm, yellow [[Doulting]] stone.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ashurst |first1=John |first2=Francis G. |last2=Dimes |title=Conservation of building and decorative stone |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |year=1998 |edition=2 |pages=102 |isbn=978-0-7506-3898-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yh4xMVb7uOQC&q=Wells%20Cathedral%20Doulting%20stone&pg=PA102 |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230605/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yh4xMVb7uOQC&q=Wells+Cathedral+Doulting+stone&pg=PA102 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Chapter House, at the top of a flight of stone stairs, leading out from the north transept is an octagonal building with a fan-vaulted ceiling.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1382900 |desc=Chapter House to Cathedral Church of St Andrew |access-date=24 August 2006}}</ref> It is here that the business of running the cathedral is still conducted by the members of the Chapter, the cathedral's ruling body. [[Wells Cathedral clock]] is famous for its 24-hour astronomical dial and set of jousting knights that perform every quarter-hour. The cathedral has the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. The tenor bell weighs just over 56&nbsp;cwt (6,272&nbsp;lb, 2,844&nbsp;kg).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/worship/bells.shtml |title=Bells |publisher=Wells Cathedral |access-date=4 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729004249/http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/worship/bells.shtml |archive-date=29 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Vicars' Close, Wells|Vicars' Close]] is the oldest residential street in Europe.<ref name="curio" /> The Close is tapered by {{cvt|10|ft|m|1}} to make it look longer when viewed from the bottom. When viewed from the top, however, it looks shorter.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1383197 |desc=Nos.1–13 Vicars Close, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1383199 |desc=Nos.14–27 Vicars Close, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1383198 |desc=Boundary walls to Nos.1–13 Vicars Close, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1383200 |desc=Boundary walls to Nos.14–27 Vicars Close, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1383201 |desc=The Vicars' Chapel Vicars Close, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1383202 |desc=The Vicars' Hall Vicars Close, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> [[The Old Deanery, Wells|The Old Deanery]] dates from the 12th century,<ref>{{NHLE |num=1382908 |desc=Gatehouse and south boundary wall to the Old Deanery, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1382907 |desc=Old Deanery Court, with link wall along east side The Old Deanery, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1382906 |desc=The Old Deanery, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> and [[St John's Priory, Wells|St John's Priory]] from the 14th.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1383115 |desc=No.2 St John's Priory, with front boundary wall and railings, Wells |access-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> The street is owned by Wells Cathedral.