Search for an Event

Wells Cathedral has one of the few chained libraries in Britain. It is especially attractive as it is still in its original location built in the 1450s, although the current bookshelves and chains are 17th Century. Our Chained Library houses books published before 1800 which were collected by the canons in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, reflecting their wide-ranging intellectual interests.

Please allow one and a half hours for the tour. Be aware that access is by a stone spiral staircase and may not be suitable for those with mobility problems.

This tour is part of our programme of pre-bookable special interest tours for 2019 which offer an insight into the chained library and are led by our highly trained and enthusiastic Cathedral Guides.

Each tour lasts a full hour and a half. Places do need to be pre-booked via Eventbrite and maximum tour numbers apply. £13.71 (including booking fee) per person.