The Great West Front,
Wells Cathedral.
Photo: 30 April 2014.
Source: Own work.
Attribution:
Photo by DAVID ILIFF.
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Author: Diliff
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.
The Cathedral is also used for the Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals of those with close connections to it.[77] In July 2009, the Cathedral undertook the Funeral of Harry Patch, the last British Army Veteran of World War I, who died at the age of 111.[78]
Each year about 150,000 people attend Services and another 300,000 visit as tourists.[81] [82] General admission tickets can be purchased via the Welcome Desk. There is no charge for people who wish to come into the Cathedral to Pray, attend a Service, or light a Candle.[83]
Wells Cathedral’s Cemetery.
Photo: 31 December 2006.
Source: Own work.
Author: Pequod76
(Wikimedia Commons)
Construction of the Cathedral began in about 1175, to the design of an unknown Master-Mason. Wells is the first Cathedral in England to be built, from its Foundation, in Gothic Style.
According to art historian John Harvey, it is the first truly Gothic Cathedral in the World, its architects having entirely dispensed with all features that bound the contemporary East End of Canterbury Cathedral and the earlier buildings of France, such as the East End of the Abbey of Saint Denis, to the Romanesque Style.[8]
Unlike these Churches, Wells has Clustered Piers, rather than Columns, and has a Gallery of identical Pointed Arches, rather than the typically Romanesque form of Paired Openings. The Style, with its simple Lancet Arches without Tracery and Convoluted Mouldings, is known as Early-English Gothic.[89]
From about 1192 to 1230, Adam Lock, the earliest Master-Mason at Wells for whom a name is known, continued the Transept and Nave in the same manner as his predecessor. Lock was also the builder of the North Porch, to his own design.[33]
The World-famous Scissor Arches of Wells Cathedral.
Strainer Arches, sometimes described as Scissor Arches,
were inserted by the 14th-Century Master Mason,
Photo: 9 October 2005.
Source: Own work.
Author: Jörg Bittner Unna
(Wikimedia Commons)
PART TEN FOLLOWS.
Fascinating armchair journey as usual with tour guide Zephyrinus through Wells Cathedral.
ReplyDeleteAt least 3 unique features (previously unknown to thus reader as are many things), noted here about Wells: It is the first English cathedral in the Gothic style; it has clustered piers instead of pillars and has pointed arches instead of the rounded Romanesque-style arches; and of course, the ingenious engineering device by master mason William Joy of the “Scissor Arches,” distributing load weight of the massive tower and increasing lateral stability. These individual features are seen in other cathedrals, but according to some of the architecture historians it appears Wells is the first with all these features coherently organized together.
Very interesting in depth, as usual, study, thank you, Zephyrinus! -Comment by Dante P
A most interesting contribution from our Mediæval Architectural and Gothic Revival Correspondent, Dante P, for which we are most grateful.
DeleteWells Cathedral is, indeed, a most beautiful edifice and well worthy of greater contemplation.