Wells past, present and future
Preserve, celebrate and look forward
Wells Civic Society
Wells Civic Society Plaques are awarded to recognise distinctive features of the City, whether it may be people or places of merit associated with the City (Blue Plaques), buildings or streets with a distinctive history or association (Architectural Plaques), as well as local businesses (Indoor Plaques) that have made a long term contribution to the life of the City.
A full description of each of the sites is given on the Plaque Award map page
BLUE PLAQUES
The Blue Plaques are a series being installed across the city by Wells Civic Society, for which financial contributions have been made by a number of people and organisations which are acknowledged on the plaques.
City Arms
The City Arms in the High Street commemorates its use as the city’s gaol from 1606, following which an inn was incorporated into the site by 1689, and there has been an inn there ever since.
Brine's Brush Factory
7a Portway looks so different from neighbouring house as it is on the former entrance way to Brine’s brush factory
W.G. Grace Visit
English cricket legend W.G. Grace played on what is now the Wells Recreation Ground in 1867, and was out for a mere three runs.
The Wells Gallows
During the 17th and 18th centuries here stood the place of public execution for hanging, drawing, quartering and burning at the stake
Barclay's Bank
Here the notorious Judge Jeffreys tried 542 people in one day in 1685 for joining the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion against King James II, and all but one, were convicted and 94 executed.
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The Crown: Bert Phillips Photographers
Bert Phillips a 20th century mid-Somerset photographer worked here for almost 40 years
The Rib and Elizabeth Goudge
Elizabeth was a best-selling author in both the UK and the US from the 1930s into the 1970s, and inspired J K Rowling to write the Harry Potter books
The Swan Hotel
King Henry VII, Winston Churchill and Queen Anne of Denmark have all stayed at the Swan hotel
Edgar Wright director of Hot Fuzz
Film director Edgar Wright a student of Wells Blue School (1985-92) was director of the movie Hot Fuzz that was filmed in Wells
INDOOR PLAQUES
Fisher Family Jewellery Shop
The shop was founded in 1919 by Leon Fisher, the great grandfather of the present boss Marcus, in the premises now occupied by Specsavers. Later the Fishers moved next door to where they are now.
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The Paul family have run their business of caring for buildings in Wells for over 150 years since the late 1800s
Rock House Dentist Practice
Richard and Sue Leworthy have been running Rock House Dental Practice for over 30 years, which is in a Grade II listed building from the 1740s
Leon the Barber
Leon Tooze started work as a barber back in 1959, and now 73, he is still going strong with no plans to retire.
Browne's Garden Centre
Browne’s garden business was founded in Wells on a site off New Street in 1808, seven years before the Battle of waterloo, and in 1974 the business moved to the present Browne’s Garden Centre at Keward.
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Wells Film Centre
Derek Cooper founded the film centre in 1992, and it has grown from one screen to three and switched from celluloid packed in big cans to digital technology with the films arriving online
Basil Powell Shoes
Wells has had a shoe shop at the top of Broad Street since 1863, first run by the George family then by Clarks of Street before it was sold to one of their employees, Basil Powell.
Earthcraft Shop
Julie Romeo has run Earthcraft since she opened it in 1979, and has no plans to stop now
Protec
The “three shops in one” family business of Queen Street in Wells have been recognised for serving the city since 1983.
ARCHITECTURAL PLAQUES
The Liberty and East Liberty
The Liberty is the area of land, including the Cathedral, consisting of Ritchie Hall, the adjacent Polydor Vergill house, and the corner property, Cedars House.
Almshouses in Wells
Comprise Llewellyn’s and Charles’ established in 1636, Bubwith’s in St Cuthbert’s churchyard founded in 1436, and Harper’s on Chamberlain Street from 1726.
The Market Place
Bekynton's New Works (1451-2) form the northern side of the Market Place, and the water fountain replaces a medieval conduit built in 1451
Sadler Street and Brown's Gate
From the mid 13th century Sadler Street has been the main entry to the city from the north along which are Brown’s Gate (c. 1450), the White Hart Hotel replacing a building from 1301 to c. 1497, and the Swan Hotel first mentioned in 1422
High Street
The High Street dates from the 12th Century, with King John granting the right to hold a weekly market and five annual fairs
St John Street
St John Street and Southover was the main entry to Wells from Glastonbury named after the Priory of the Hospital of St John the Baptist, founded c. 1220, which was a religious community area.
Guardhouse Lane
Guardhouse Lane is named after an eighteenth-century guardhouse used to house Napoleonic prisoners-of-war
Broad Street
Originally called Wet Lane and subsequently Water Lane, this finally became Broad Street when widened from a modest 3.5 metres to its present size in 1838.
