The part of the wells can be found is a complex of small pools and channels, fed by an underground river. The sluice gates regulate the flow of water into the moat and other water channels. Water can sometimes be seen bubbling up in the clear water of the wells.
Bishop Law enclose a group of three small well springs to create a new pond. On a still day this pool perfectly mirrors the cathedral.*
After heavy rain the flow of water increases, and local flooding becomes a risk. The palace gardeners can open sluices to let more water into the moat so the pool doesn’t overflow.*
*From a signboard next to the sluice gate
Tags: Sluice Gates, The Bishop's Palace, There's Always One Two, Weekend away, Well Pool, Wells, Wells Cathedral
Where there is friendship there is infinite possibility.
From a Thousand Paths to friendship by David Baird
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, The Bishop's Palace, Weekend away, Wells, Wells Cathedral
For centuries the wells here provided clean water for those living nearby.
This water wheel was installed in the 1800s to power a pump which supplied water to the Palace for domestic use.
However, in the 1870s Bishop Hervey’s children caught typhoid fever. He suspected that contaminated water had caused their illness. He may well have been right – most of the city’s wells were eventually classed as unfit for drinking because liquid sewage from cesspits leached into groundwater sources.*
*From a sign board next to the pump.
Tags: Pump, The Bishop's Palace, Water Wheel, Weekend away, Wells
In 1451 Bishop Beckynton granted to the town a supply of water from the Wells within his palace gardens. A cistern inside this well house collected water. This ‘head’ connected enough pressure to force a supply through pipes to an outlet in the market place.
Overflow water from the marketplace wellhead ran down a gutter, washing blood and offal away from butcheries along the high street.
The statue on top of the well house is Bishop Beckynton’s hunting dog, a Talbot hound.
Tags: The Bishop's Palace, The Well House, Weekend away, Wells
In 705 King Ine if Wessex hear these Wells to Aldhem, his bishop, so that he could build a minster. The Saxon minster lay just south of the present Cathedral. A stream from this well flowed close beside the minster. Water might have been taken from the stream for use in some church ceremonies.
The wells’ unceasing flow through the city would have seemed very significant in the middle ages.
“The Book of Revelation (cc 21-22) describes the vision of the city of God:
Then the angel showed me the river of life, rising from the throne of God and flowing crystal clear. Down the middle of the city street, on either side of the river, were the trees of life, the leaves of which are for the healing of the nations.”
Wells, with its ceaseless waters, could be seen as an earthly reflection of this perfect city. *
*From a sign board next to the well
Tags: The Bishop's Palace, Weekend away, Wells, Wells Cathedral
The Weight of our Sins… beneath Wells Cathedral
Tags: Weekend away, Wells, Wells Cathedral
“In this moment, as they stop for breath before staggering on with their burden of the cross, we are given an opening to relate to this group of deserted children.”
Josefina de Vasconcellos, sculptor
The artist represents each child to symbolise a crime against children in the world today: AIDS, drugs, genocide, abuse, landmines, homelessness, infant mortality, lack of education. She had a great heart for the needs of disadvantaged children and helped them in many practical ways.
Information taken from a signboard next to the sculpture.
Tags: Rest a while with me, The Bishop's Palace, Weekend away, Wells
