Wells, Somerset - Vicars Close - real photo postcard c.1940s

Postcard
• Picture / Image:  The Vicar's Close (looking down) Wells, Somerset - real photo
• Publisher:  none stated
• Postally used:  no
• Stamp:  n/a
• Postmark(s):  n/a
• Sent to:  n/a
• Notes / condition: 

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Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information (internal links may not  work) :

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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 I 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]

The Close owes its origins to a grant of land and buildings by Walter de Hulle, a canon of the cathedral, for the purpose of accommodating thirteen chantry priests.^[10] Bishop Jocelin styled these priests the Vicars Choral, their duty being to chant divine service eight times a day.^[11][12] Previously they had lived throughout the town, and Bishop Ralph resolved to incorporate them and provide subsistence for the future. The Vicars Choral were assigned annuities from his lands and tenements in Congresbury and Wookey, an annual fee from the vicarage of Chew, and endowed them with lands obtained from the Feoffees of Walter de Hulle.^[9] The residences he built became known as the College, or Close of the Vicars.^[11]

type=real photographic (rp)

city/ region=wells

period=post-war (1945 - present)

postage condition=unposted

number of items=single

size=standard (140x89mm)