Location Wells, Somerset | Completed c1460 | |
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Similar Vicars' Close - Wells, The Bishop's Eye - Wells, Penniless Porch - Wells, Bishop's Palace - Wells, Wells Cathedral | ||
The Chain Gate in Wells, Somerset, England, is an entrance gateway adjacent to the north side of Wells Cathedral, controlling access from St Andrew Street to the Cathedral Green within the Liberty of St Andrew. It is a Grade I listed building.
Map of Chain Gate, Wells, UK
It was built c.1460 for Bishop Thomas Beckington and is a two-storey building of Doulting stone ashlar with a Welsh slate roof. The lower level comprises a wagon gate flanked on both sides by pedestrian gates. The upper level provides a passageway between the Chapter House of the cathedral and Vicars' Close.
An undated sketch by Henry Edridge (1768 - 1821) shows the Chain Gate in the late 18th or early 19th century, with a much taller wall than exists today alongside the road approaching the gate.
References
Chain Gate, Wells Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA