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Bishop
Ralph of Shrewsbury followed, continuing with the eastward
extension of the quire and the retro- quire beyond with
its forest of pillars. He also built Vicars' Hall and
Close, to give the men of the choir a secure place to
live, away from the town with all its temptations. He
enjoyed an uneasy relationship with the citizens of
Wells, partly because of his imposition of taxes, and
felt the need to surround his palace with crenellated
walls and a moat and drawbridge.
The appointment of William Wynford as master mason in
1365 marked another period of activity. He was one of
the foremost architects of his time and apart from Wells
was engaged in work for the king at Windsor and at New
College Oxford and Winchester Cathedral. Under Bishop
Harewell, who raised money for the project, he built
the south-west tower of the West Front and designed
the north west, which was built to match in the early
1400s. Inside the building he filled in the early English
lancet windows with delicate tracery. |
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