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Vicars' Close, Wells, in the smallest city in England.
The small, picturesque, terraced houses that sit either side of a cobbled street, were originally built to house a vicar each. They were built by Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury and were occupied as early as 1348. (Some say that Vicars’ Close can lay claim to being the only completely medieval street left in England, others state it’s the oldest continually inhabited residential street in Europe.) Either way, Vicars’ Close in Wells is beautifully preserved.
Back in the 14th century there was housing for 42 Vicars – 22 sets of single chambers on the east side and 20 on the west. As you would expect, the houses were very basic and didn’t have a front garden.
Over the centuries minor concessions have been made. In the 15th century, Bishop Bubwith allowed 19 1/2 feet to be walled off in front of each house to be used as a front garden. In the 1660s some of the houses were allowed to be leased by ‘strangers’. According to ‘The Vicars’ Close’ by Hugh Parnell, 12 of the most decayed houses were allowed to be rented by “persons of good and honest reputation as will covenaunt to rebuild and repair them at their owne proper costs and charges.” ‘Strangers’ have been allowed to inhabit Vicars’ Close ever since. Today’s residents of Vicars’ Close include all 12 men of the Vicars Choral, the organists, and virgers.
Vicars’ Close is currently made up of 27 houses, a chapel, a library, treasury and muniment room (a storage room for historical documents). There is also a dining hall which is connected to the Cathedral by a walkway.
Vicars' Close, Wells, in the smallest city in England.
The small, picturesque, terraced houses that sit either side of a cobbled street, were originally built to house a vicar each. They were built by Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury and were occupied as early as 1348. (Some say that Vicars’ Close can lay claim to being the only completely medieval street left in England, others state it’s the oldest continually inhabited residential street in Europe.) Either way, Vicars’ Close in Wells is beautifully preserved.
Back in the 14th century there was housing for 42 Vicars – 22 sets of single chambers on the east side and 20 on the west. As you would expect, the houses were very basic and didn’t have a front garden.
Over the centuries minor concessions have been made. In the 15th century, Bishop Bubwith allowed 19 1/2 feet to be walled off in front of each house to be used as a front garden. In the 1660s some of the houses were allowed to be leased by ‘strangers’. According to ‘The Vicars’ Close’ by Hugh Parnell, 12 of the most decayed houses were allowed to be rented by “persons of good and honest reputation as will covenaunt to rebuild and repair them at their owne proper costs and charges.” ‘Strangers’ have been allowed to inhabit Vicars’ Close ever since. Today’s residents of Vicars’ Close include all 12 men of the Vicars Choral, the organists, and virgers.
Vicars’ Close is currently made up of 27 houses, a chapel, a library, treasury and muniment room (a storage room for historical documents). There is also a dining hall which is connected to the Cathedral by a walkway.