Wells Cathedral

Cathedral of the diocese of Bath and Wells, England. It was begun in the late 12th century, and the central parts of the building, the transepts, the east bays of nave, and the west bays of choirs are in the transitional style of that period. Jocelin, bishop from 1206 to 1242, built the rest of the nave, the west front, and the north porch, all of which are superb examples of Early English architecture.

The other main features of Wells are in the Decorated style, the retrochoir and Lady Chapel being completed around 1325, the chapter-house by 1319, the tower from 1315 to 1322 (but the exterior altered around 1440), the strainer arches beneath the tower between 1338 and 1340, and the new east end in 1345.

The famous features of the cathedral are the west front, once painted, which is a gallery of medieval statuary unrivalled in England; the octagonal chapter-house, which develops the ‘palm branch’ vaulting of Exeter Cathedral to a supreme conclusion with 36 ribs rising from a central column; the retrochoir and Lady Chapel which are in the same adventurous style; and the unique, stupendously bold strainer arches of the crossing. The cathedral also contains excellent 14th-century stained glass, misericord seats of around 1340, and a clock of around 1390.