Wells

Wells, cathedral city in Somerset, south-western England, located at the foot of the Mendip Hills. The town's manufactured products include paper, textiles, electronic equipment, and cheese. Wells Cathedral is situated on the site of a church founded around ad 705 by King Ine of Wessex; this became a cathedral in 909 and the magnificent building standing today dates largely from c. 1175 to 1260. The Bishop's Palace was first built in the 13th century, although its interior was considerably modified in the 17th century; the palace is moated and fortified. The city is the smallest cathedral city in England; it is named after the many springs that rise near the cathedral. Wells appears in the novels of Anthony Trollope as “Barchester”. Population (1993 estimate) 10,000.