WELLS, Somersetshire, an aucient city, the seat of a bishopric, a municipal and parliamentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, is situated in a valley at the foot of the Mendip Hills, in 51° 12' N. lat., 2° 38' W. long., distant 19 miles S.W. from Bath, and 120 miles W. by S. from London. The population of the borough of Wells in 1851 was 4736. The borough is governed by 4 aldermen and 12 councilors, of whom one is mayor ; and returns two members to the Imperial Parliament. The living is a vicarage in the archdeacoury of Wells and diocese of Bath and Wells.
The founder of the first church at Wells is said to have been Ins, king of Wessex, in 704. In the reign of Edward the Elder, in the beginning of the 10th century, the town became the seat of a bishopric. About 1091 John de Villula obtained the bishopric, and having removed the episcopal seat to Bath, called himself bishop of Bath only. About 1139 Bishop Roberts, the successor of Villula, determined that the diocesan should be styled Bishop of Bath and Wells. Wells has returned two members to Parliament since the reign of Edward 1.
The town is cleansed, lighted with gas, paved, and supplied with water. There is a jail. The town-hall was built in 1780, and stands on one side of an extensive area which communicates by an ancient gateway with the cathedral close. The cathedral is one of the finest structures of the kind in England. It is in the usual form of a cross, the extreme length from east to west being 415 feet and the transept measuring 155 feet. The tower, which rises front tho intersection, is 165 feet high, and two other massive towers, each 126 feet in height, crown the extremities of the west front. This western facade is re markable for its tracery and sculptured figures : there are about 150 statues of the size of life, and above 300 of smaller size; and although many of them are a good deal mutilated, the effect is very striking. The Lady chapel is the most beautiful part of the cathedral, and is one of the best specimens of ecclesiastical architecture in England.
There are several ancient monuments. The cathedral has for some time past been undergoing the process of restoration. The cloister-a form a quadrangle attached to the south side of the cathedral, the sides severally measuring about 160 feet. The chapter-house is a handsome octangular building, 52 feet diameter in the interior, the roof being supported by a single central pillar. The episcopal palace, which is of the 14th century, stands at a short distance south from the cathedral, and with its lofty and embattled wall, inclosing an area of about seven acres, and surrounded by a broad moat filled with water, resembles an old baronial cantle. The parish church of St. Cuthbert is a large and handsome edifice in the later pointed style, with a fine embattled tower crowned with pinnacles. The Wesleyan Methodists, Independents, and Baptists have places of worship. The Chapter Grammar school is free to choristers. The Diocesan central schools, which are conducted as National schools, are partly supported from endowment ; there are also an Endowed Blue-Coat school, Infant schools, several almshouses, and a savings bank.
The corn-market has decayed, but the market for cheese is still important. The market days are Wednesday and Saturday. Fairs are held on January 6th, May 14th, July 6th, October 25th, and November 30th. The summer assizes for Somersetshire are held alternately in Wells and Bridgewater. A county court is held. Races are run annually in the vicinity of Wells.
The see of Bath and Wells is in the province of Canterbury. The diocese comprises the county of Somerset, except Bedminster, and contains 460 benefices : it is divided into the archdeaconries of Wells, Bath, and Taunton. The chapter consists of the dean, archdeacons, chancellor, precentor, and four canons. The income of the bishop is fixed at,50001. a year.