Wells, Somerset - The Vicars Close c.1903 postcard

Postcard

 

• Picture / Image:  The Vicars Close, Wells - vignette type though not undivided back
• Publisher:  'Wyndham' series.
• Postally used:  no
• Stamp:  n/a
• Postmark(s):  n/a
• Sent to:  n/a
• Notes & Key words: has small nick in bottom left corner. 

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UK (incl. IOM, CI & BFPO): 99p

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NOTE: All postcards are sent in brand new stiffened envelopes which I have bought for the task. These are specially made to protect postcards and you may be able to re-use them. In addition there are other costs to sending so the above charge is not just for the stamp!

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Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information:

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Vicars' Close, in Wells, Somerset, England is claimed to be the oldest purely residential street with its original buildings all surviving intact in Europe.^[1] John Julius Norwich calls it "that rarest of survivals, a planned street of the mid-14th century".^[2] It comprises numerous Grade 1 listed buildings,^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]} comprising 27 residences (originally 44), built for Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, a chapel and library at the north end, and a hall at the south end, over an arched gate. It is connected at its southern end to the cathedral by way of a walkway over Chain Gate.

The Close is about 460 ft (140 m) long, and paved with setts.^[5] Its width is tapered by 10 ft (3 m) to make it look longer when viewed from the main entrance nearest the cathedral. When viewed from the other end it looks shorter.

By the nineteenth century the buildings were reported to be in a poor state of repair, and part of the hall was being used as a malthouse.^[9]

Wells is a small cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills.

The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral.^[2] During the Middle Ages these wells were thought to have curative powers.^[3] The Wells city arms show an ash tree surrounded by three wells, with the Latin motto Hoc fonte derivata copia (the fullness that springs from this well).

Although the population, recorded in the 2001 census, is only 10,406,^[1] it has had city status since 1205. This was confirmed and formalised by Queen Elizabeth II by letters patent issued under the Great Seal dated April 1, 1974.^[4][5] It is the second smallest city in England, following the City of London, though St Davids in Wales is the smallest city in the UK.