Library & Archives

The Cathedral Library was built in the mid-fifteenth century over the East Cloister.

It houses the book collection of the Chapter in two areas: the Chained Library and the Reading Room. The earliest records of the Cathedral are housed in the Muniment Room at the southern end of the Library.

The Chained Library houses books published before 1800. These were collected by the canons in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and reflects their wide-ranging intellectual interests. The core of the collection of some 2,800 volumes is theology, but science, medicine, history, exploration and languages are also well-represented. There are some good examples of manuscript books but the medieval contents of the Library were lost at the time of the Reformation.

The strength of the collection is in printed books, the earliest being a Pliny Naturalis Historiae printed in Venice in 1472 by Nicholas Jenson. Other early books include Vesalius’ De Humanis Corporis Fabrica of 1555, which is the book of anatomy that heralded the advent of biology as a subject, and the earliest complete atlas of the world by Abraham Ortelius which was first published in English in 1606. The set of Aristotle’s works published in Venice in 1497 belonged to Erasmus and has his signature and annotations.

The Library can be viewed by the public at appointed times in the summer season, when there is a small exhibition of books and documents, and we welcome full tours by groups that make prior arrangements. Scholars are also welcome but must make their requirements known and book an appointment in advance with the Librarian by email at library@wellscathedral.uk.net or by telephone on 01749 674483.

The postal address for both Library is: Cathedral Offices, Chain Gate, Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE

The Reading Room

The Reading Room was created in 2002 in order to allow much wider access to the post 1800 books and journals. The collection complements and extends that of the Chained Library, with modern translations and commentaries on theological and spiritual works as well as books on history, biography, archaeology and all aspects of cathedral life.

A catalogue is available in the Reading Room, which is open to subscribers January–November, Mondays to Thursdays, 11.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm.

To become a subscriber at an annual cost of £10 [£7.50 if payment is by standing order], please apply to the Librarian at the address below.

The Archives

The Archives comprise the records of the Dean and Chapter from the eleventh century to the present day. These illustrate the day-to-day running of the cathedral, with an emphasis on the management of cathedral property in Wells and manors and estates in Somerset, 1060s – 1860s, but include no personal or family papers of the canons or other people employed by the Cathedral.

Administrative and legal records survive from the 11th century, the oldest being a rare Papal letter of 1060.

Accounts and financial records survive from the late fourteenth century and are by no means as complete as the administrative ones. The most extensive part of the collection consists of the leases of Chapter property, running chiefly from the 17th century.

The Cathedral registers of baptisms, marriages and burials date from 1660 and there is also an extensive collection of plans and photographs.

The Archives also comprise the records of the College of Vicars Choral, 1348-1933, beginning with its foundation charter of 1348, and the records of Wells Old Almshouses, founded in the early 15th century, but with title deeds to its property from the thirteenth century.

The oldest Chapter records are housed in the Library Muniment Room, more modern ones in the West Cloister Archives, where the Archive Reading Room is situated. The collection is fully catalogued, although not yet in electronic form. An out-of-date but still useful handlist of the archives can be obtained via the Archon Directory on the National Archives website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon

The records are open to the public, but an appointment should be made in advance with the Archivist, who is on duty on Mondays and Wednesdays by email at archives@wellscathedral.uk.net or by telephone on 01749 674483.

The postal address for the Archives is: Cathedral Offices, Chain Gate, Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE