WELLS Cathedral has received a £4.4 million boost from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards its campaign to save Vicars’ Close, the series of 30 medieval houses and buildings that is world-renowned for being the most complete and continuously occupied medieval street in Europe.
The project will cost a total of £7 million and includes not only critical conservation works, but also a new visitor experience, which will open up four of the unique buildings to the public for the first time.
In addition to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Cathedral has already raised £1 million from donors. This leaves £1.6 million still to raise from the community and history lovers across the nation to enable completion of this transformational project.
First built more than 600 years ago, the Close in Wells has housed generations of singers as part of the Vicars’ Choral. To this day it retains that function with the altos, tenors and basses still living there.
Wells Cathedral is a cornerstone example of an early English Gothic building. From the north transept, the Chain Gate bridge with its famous stairs leads to Vicars’ Close. Although the precise date of the inception of the Close is not known, the integral role of the choir can be seen in mid-12th century statutes, while the Vicars’ Hall is regarded as having been completed by 1348, the year of the Black Death. More research to establish a clearer inception date will be undertaken as part of the conservation project.
The houses are arranged in two terraces and face each other, with distinctive octagonal ashlar chimneys set on the front eaves of the wall. Uniquely for a street of this period, an ocular trick is built into the design, where the width of the terraces narrows from south to north, as well as the height of the buildings. Although subtle, this gives the impression the street is much longer when entering from the Cathedral side.
Originally the road was the full width of space between the houses, but exterior gardens were added later. The walls of the houses mostly consist of rubble stone that has been sourced from the local area, such as Doulting, Draycott and Chilcote.
Over the centuries, temporary or small works have been undertaken which can be seen in some of the houses. The roofs were stripped and re-laid in the 1970s, while No 16, with its taller roof, is believed to have been almost entirely restored in the 18th century. Victorian designers also reconfigured the interior of some of the houses.
Now, urgent repairs are needed so the Grade I listed buildings can continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. The repairs are specific to each property, and consist of re-roofing, new insulation, drainage improvements to prevent water damage, wall conservation, and exterior joinery repairs.
Conservation plans are a result of long-term planning between the Cathedral and Somerset Council, Historic England, Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the Georgian Group and the Victorian Society.
The proposed plans include No 27 becoming a visitor centre, and Nos 12, 22 and Vicars’ Hall having public access all year round. The gardens of No 12 and No 22 will be redesigned with medieval inspiration and using the latest research to investigate the horticulture of the high and late Middle Ages. No 22 is particularly noteworthy as one of the houses that is most authentic to its original layout.
Although some of the houses have been open for temporary exhibitions and events, this will be the first time that permanent access will be established.
Raising money has changed since the Vicars’ Close first came into being. In the mid-14th century Edward III (1312-1377) tried to pawn his own crown to raise money. Wells Cathedral hopes the generosity and goodwill of the people can help save the street without such extreme measures.
Whatever people can give, the Cathedral is asking for donations to help reach its target and save one of the most historic streets in the UK.
The Dean of Wells, the Very Rev Toby Wright, said: “Vicars’ Close is a truly remarkable place, possibly without parallel anywhere in the world. We have a responsibility not only to protect the architectural site but also to share its extraordinary heritage and enable more people to engage with it.
“We are absolutely thrilled that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has made such a generous and significant contribution to help us achieve that ambition. We are now asking for public support to raise the last £1.6 million and ensure that one of the most historic places in the UK will be protected for future generations – even a small donation will make a big difference.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Places of worship, and the buildings associated with them, are some of our oldest and most cherished historic buildings and many play a key role as a gateway to our heritage and communities. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will enable vital steps towards securing a brighter and more sustainable future for Vicars’ Close and enable new audiences to enjoy this remarkable survival and explore the heritage it holds.
“We are delighted to invest in the restoration and reimagining of the buildings of Vicars’ Close, ensuring that this heritage will be valued, cared for, and sustained, for everyone, now and in the future.”
Donations can be made at justgiving.com/campaign/vicarsclose
• Picture: Members of Wells Cathedral’s Vicars’ Choral stand outside their homes on Vicars’ Close: from left, Stephen Harvey, Simon Clulow, Natalie Manning and Matthew Minter (Mark Pickthall)