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Walk 3, CITY OF WELLS HISTORY |
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Starting from the Market Place, in front of the Crown Hotel and looking towards the National Trust Shop make your way towards the gate to the left of the Post Office known as the Bishop's Eye. Continue through the gateway and walk across the green towards the moat crossing to the Bishops Palace. If your luck is in you may see the main residents of the moat, the swans, pulling the chain to the left of the gate house and receiving their meal in return.
Walk back anti-clockwise around the moat, passing the bandstand on your right and continue round the moat until it turns away from the path. Walk on down this wide path to Tor St, taking care as you cross the road turn left, now facing the Fountain Pub about 150 m away.
Walk towards the pub and cross the bottom of St Thomas St, turning left and continuing on this side of the road around the Liberty. Staying on this side of the road carry on, crossing College Lane until you come to a set of pedestrian lights. Cross over and walk through the small doorway in the wall. Prepare yourself for one of the highlights of a multi-highlight walk-you are now in the Vicars Close. Walk down this mix of school and church lodgings to the bottom, turning right and underneath the Chain Gate. Continue past the Music Rooms with the Cathedral Clock on your left and Wells Museum on your right. |
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| We are heading straight ahead to the gateway known as Brown's Gate although you may wish to either take of the Cathedral tour or just soak in the glory of the West Front or the peace and quiet of the Cathedral Green. |
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Exiting through Brown's Gate you will now be facing the White Hart Hotel, turn left down Sadler St and pass the Swan Hotel on your right. Walk on to the entrance of the Market Square but this time turn right down the High St until you come to Union St on the right ( by the pedestrian crossing). Walk up Union St to Chamberlain St at the top and turn left. Walk down Chamberlain St, turn left down Priest's Row coming to Llewellyn's Almshouses mid way down on the left.
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Retrace your steps back up Priest's Row and turn left at Chamberlain St passing Bubwith's Almshouses. |
| Carry on past the almshouses and turn left at the gate opposite the garage. On your right at the back of the Bubwith buildings are Bricke's Almshouses forming a perfect complement to the massive St Cuthbert's Church. |
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Past the front of St Cuthberts and carrying on to the pink walled building up the High St, the City Arms Pub. Turn right down Queen St and cross the junction ahead into St John St. This is architecturally a quieter part of the walk but no less interesting as the different styles of houses etc give away the fact that there appears to be no time in which these back streets have been added to or amended in one way or another. |
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Carry on down St John St until the junction with Southover, and then Silver St. Turn left up Silver St and walk back to the Bishop' Palace. Half way up Silver St once the housing has finished on your left you pass playing fields and come to the Bishop's Barn. Continue up Silver St until you return to the Palace moat, turn left and walk back to the Bishop's Eye and the Market Place.
Length - 3-4km/2 miles approx. Time - At your leisure. Conditions - Roads and pavements.
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