Discovering Vicars’ Close events to celebrate internationally significant street

From 30 May – 10 June, an event series dubbed 'Discovering Vicars' Close' will  celebrate the internationally significant street in Wells and share plans for its future.

In 2022, Wells Cathedral was given a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop plans which will conserve the unique architectural heritage of the site and open a number of the historic properties to the public for the first time.

The Discovering Vicars’ Close programme will include opportunities to learn more about the history of the Close and the project, and to share ideas for interpretation and future activities.

Guided tours will allow access to some of the most special but previously unseen spaces in the Close. Events include a talk on medieval garden design and a dusk bat walk with our project ecologist. During half term there will be three days of children’s workshops, each with a different theme relating to the Close.

The Cathedral archivist will also host visits to the archives where attendees will be able to see the original Charter signed by Edward III. The archives also hold a letter from the court of Elizabeth I asking to return one of the Vicars Choral who has been on loan; apparently, his voice had broken and he had started to eat too much! 

Crystal Johnson, Project Manager, said

“There will be something for everyone including children’s workshops, guided tours, displays, talks and walks. Vicars’ Close is a truly amazing place with an incredible history. This is an opportunity to not only see behind the scenes and find out about our project plans but also to share ideas and thoughts about what you would like for the Close in the future”.

These events are part of the detailed development of the project. A second stage application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund will be submitted later this year for £3.3million. If successful, this will enable the conservation of all buildings in the Close and the development of new visitor spaces to share and celebrate the heritage of this unique place.

Ahead of and during the events in May and June, local residents and visitors are being invited to complete a short survey at (available online at www.wellscathedral.org.uk/vicarsclose) to help inform the plans for a new visitor experience at Vicars’ Close.

Knowing that time is precious, anyone completing the survey is being offered the opportunity to win 2 x Gold tier tickets to this year’s Carols by Candlelight concerts in the Cathedral. Worth £100, these tickets sell out fast, but the lucky winner will be able to choose tickets for either 19, 20 or 21 December 2023. More information on the draw is given at the end of the survey.