Parents Help in Wells
Wells is a small cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, nestling in the Mendip Hills.The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to St. Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop Palace and cathedral.
Although an agricultural and farming centre, Wells is home to several industries, such as paper mills, high technology industries and a leading maker of baby foods.
The first church was built near the wells in 708 and the present cathedral building was begun in 1180. Wells Cathedral is the cathedral of the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells.
The City was a Roman settlement but only became an important centre under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704. Wells became a borough some time before 1160 when Bishop Robert granted its first charter. Fairs were granted to the City before 1160.
Wells had three railway stations, Priory Street, the East Somerset and the Bristol and Exeter Railway.
Wells is part of the UK Parliament constituency of Wells; the current Member of Parliament is David Heathcoat-Amory of the Conservative Party. The area is part of the South West England European Parliament constituency.
Despite its appearance and its obvious tourist potential, Wells does not wholly trade on its past. It is now a vibrant and bustling place in which to live and work.
The shopping centre, of surprising size for so small a City, has a wide variety of independently owned shops and at its heart is the twice weekly market which is, at times, enlivened by street entertainers and traveling funfairs.
|
