Editing Wells, Somerset (section)

==City status==
[[File:Wells-parish-map.jpg|thumb|right|Map of Wells showing city/parish border, and urban area.
{{legend|orange|City/parish border|outline=#606060}}
{{legend|#F2EFE9|Countryside|outline=#606060}}
{{legend|#E0DFDF|Urban area|outline=#606060}}]]
{{see also|List of smallest cities in the United Kingdom}}
As the seat of an ancient cathedral and [[diocese]], Wells is historically regarded as a city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charter of Incorporation |url=https://bishopspalace.org.uk/uploads/Elizabeth%201%20Charter%20Extract%20WEB.pdf |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121304/https://bishopspalace.org.uk/uploads/Elizabeth%201%20Charter%20Extract%20WEB.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> City status was most recently confirmed by Queen Elizabeth II by letters patent dated 1 April 1974, which granted city status specifically to the civil parish.<ref name="lg0474"/> As the designation is typically awarded to a local council area,<ref>{{cite web |title=DIAMOND JUBILEE CIVIC HONOURS COMPETITIONS - ENTRY GUIDELINES |url=https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/documents/s22818/Civic-Honours-Entry-Guidelines.pdf%2030122010%20Management%20Team.pdf |quote=Her Majesty The Queen has agreed that competitions may be held for a grant of city status and a grant of Lord Mayoralty (called a Lord Provostship in Scotland) to mark Her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. <br><br> 1. Any local authority (district, borough, parish/town/community or unitary council) in any part of the United Kingdom which considers that its area deserves to be granted the rare honour of city status on this very special occasion is welcome to enter the competition.... <br><br> 3. Applications may only be made by an elected local authority – normally, in respect of the entire local authority area. |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822084747/https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/documents/s22818/Civic-Honours-Entry-Guidelines.pdf%2030122010%20Management%20Team.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> this administrative area is then considered to be the formal boundary of the city, including its urban and rural extents. Wells, due to its [[urban area]] and wider parish sizes, is near-smallest city on several measures based on 2011 statistics:<ref>{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data - Browse Data |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/ |website=statistics.data.gov.uk |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127172821/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

*Its city council boundary area, surrounded wholly by countryside makes Wells the smallest free-standing city in the UK (2.11 sq mi)<ref name="wells-area">{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data - Wells parish |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/doc/statistical-geography/E04008595 |website=statistics.data.gov.uk |quote=Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 547.17 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230604/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FE04008595&inactive=false |url-status=live}}</ref> - the [[City of London]] is smaller (1.12)<ref>{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data - City of London |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/doc/statistical-geography/E09000001 |website=statistics.data.gov.uk |quote=Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 314.96 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115011408/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/doc/statistical-geography/E09000001 |url-status=live}}</ref> but is part of a much larger urban area ([[Greater London]] - 671 sq mi)<ref>{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data - Greater London BUA |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/doc/statistical-geography/E34004707 |website=statistics.data.gov.uk |quote=Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 173785.5 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230545/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FE34004707&inactive=false |url-status=live}}</ref>
*2nd smallest in England and UK by city council boundary area (2.11 sq mi) behind the City of London (1.12)
*2nd smallest in England only by population and urban area (10,536 residents, 1.35 sq mi)<ref>{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data - Wells BUA |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FE34004695 |quote=Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 350.25 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230608/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FE34004695&inactive=false |url-status=live}}</ref> behind the City of London (8,072, 1.12)
*4th smallest in the UK by population and urban area behind [[St Davids]] (1,841 residents, 0.23 sq mi),<ref>{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data {{!}} St Davids BUA |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/doc/statistical-geography/W37000368 |website=statistics.data.gov.uk |quote=Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 59.5 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230653/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FW37000368&inactive=false |url-status=live }}</ref> [[St Asaph]] (3,355, 0.50)<ref>{{cite web |title=ONS Geography Linked Data {{!}} St Asaph BUA |url=http://statistics.data.gov.uk/doc/statistical-geography/W37000113 |website=statistics.data.gov.uk |quote=Area (Extent of the realm hectarage) 129.75 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230613/http://statistics.data.gov.uk/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.data.gov.uk%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FW37000113&inactive=false |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[City of London]] (8,072, 1.12).