"Vicars Close" Top 5 Page for this destination Wells Things to Do Tip by leics

The light was wrong, so I apologise for the photos.

But this is a very special place. It is the oldest inhabited Medieval street in Europe.

There are 27 'houses' now, although originally there were 44. The street was originally built in the mid 1300s for the 'vicars choral' of the cathedral.

You enter the tapering street under a gatehouse, which had a bakehouse and granary on its ground floor and a 'common hall' for the vicars choral above.

The houses were built from 1363 to 1412, but have changed many times over the centuries. The existing chimneys date from the 1400s, replacing the originals. Each chimney is octagonal, with heraldic shields.

The gardens and garden walls are much later additions.

Some of the properties are now rented and used by Wells Cathedral School, others are still used as residences for cathedral staff.

Address: Vicars Close
Directions: Walk to the left of the cathedral as you face the west front, along Chainbridge. Vicar's Close is first left just after you have passed under the 'bridge' itself.
Website: http://www.bishopspalace.org.uk/