An example of Shrewsbury - The Original One-off in Somerset: Whilst visiting Wells Cathedral in Somerset this week, came across the beautiful Vicars Close which runs alongside the Cathedral. Then I saw this on their website about the origin of the street, said to be the oldest continually inhabited street in Europe. In 1348, Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury founded a college so that the Vicars Choral, the singing men of the choir, who sing the daily service which is still the case today, could live together communally. This centuries-old tradition is totally unique and a much valued part of the continuing life of Wells Cathedral. He provided a hall for meals and each of the 42 vicars with his own small house. These were built on two sides of a quadrangle, with the hall at one end and later, a chapel enclosing the other end. In the 15th century, the houses were given front gardens and the Chain Gate was built to provide a passage from the hall into the cathedral. Vicars’ Close, as the street came to be known, is the only completely medieval street in England.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:27:16 +0000
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