Scissor Arches... Glorious Scissor Arches!

I discovered today that my forthcoming holiday in Crete clashes with a major international conference on Beakers and all-things Beaker-related which will be taking place in nearby Edinburgh.  I've suggested to my husband that we cancel the holiday so I can go to the Beaker conference instead, and for some inexplicable reason his response has been lukewarm, to say the least!

 I've always wanted to go to Knosses.  But what's the betting I'll be wandering around Knossos thinking, "Ooh, I wonder what's happening in the Beaker conference today!!"

I promised some pictures of Wells Cathedral last week, so I'm devoting tonight's post to Wells Cathedral.  I discovered the joys of cathedral architecture fairly late in life.  Our university fieldtrip to Wessex introduced me to these spectacular buildings - as well as doing the prehistoric Grand Tour, our itinerary took in Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals.  A visit to Durham Cathedral the following year clinched the matter.  I was hooked.

Around the Millennium, a few television series were aired that were devoted to Britain's great cathedrals.  One, 'Cathedral' was presented by an architectural historian.  The other, 'Cathedral Calls', was a more populist programme presented by Janet Street Porter.  Both were very informative and enjoyable, and tthey helped fuel my cathedral interest even more.

These programmes were also responsible for one of my major Embarrassing Moments in architecture.  Faced with this mindblowing overload of Gothic, Romanesque and Perpendicular, I was left with my mind awhirl.  I had a list of cathedrals I was desperate to tick off, and top of the list was Lincoln, with its wonderful scissor arches.  (Medievalists, I know you're fidgeting with embarrassment on my behalf.  And please bear in mind - I'm a prehistorian who just pretends to know about the medieval period and Classical Greece).

The holiday to Lincoln was planned.  I saw the cathedral, and was overwhelmed with excitement.  The following day, I stepped inside, and...  No scissor arches!!!  This made no sense.  Until I found a lovely set of books in a nearby second hand book shop which included a guide to Wells, with its glorious scissor arches.

Oh dear.  A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.  A few years later, I finally made it to Wells.  And oh, boy, was it gorgeous!  So here is my tribute to the glories of Wells Cathedral.  And its famous (!) scissor arches.  It may be on the list of Least Visited Towns in Britain, but if you like medieval architecture and you get the chance, GO THERE!!!

Here's the West Front, with an amazing number of statues still surviving in situ:-

 

And here's a shot looking east towards the famous scissor arches, commissioned by an enterprising Bishop who was having major problems with the structure.  They might be medieval, but they look so sleek and modern in their style, almost anticipating art deco:-

 

Here's a close up of the scissor arches, looking up into the crossing:-

 

And a view of some of the vaulting:-

 

So...  Was it worth the wait?  Absolutely.  When I stepped into the nave and saw those arches, the view took my breath away. 

As for Lincoln...  Was it that much of a let-down?  Well, actually it wasn't.  Lincoln was just as spectacular, but in a different way.  In fact, if I have a top ten list of cathedrals, Lincoln and Wells are both jostling for No. 1 spot, pushing Durham down to 3 (and I am very fond of Durham, believe me).

I'll post more pictures of Wells in due course.
 

Scissor Arches... Glorious Scissor Arches!

I discovered today that my forthcoming holiday in Crete clashes with a major international conference on Beakers and all-things Beaker-related which will be taking place in nearby Edinburgh.  I've suggested to my husband that we cancel the holiday so I can go to the Beaker conference instead, and for some inexplicable reason his response has been lukewarm, to say the least!

 I've always wanted to go to Knosses.  But what's the betting I'll be wandering around Knossos thinking, "Ooh, I wonder what's happening in the Beaker conference today!!"

I promised some pictures of Wells Cathedral last week, so I'm devoting tonight's post to Wells Cathedral.  I discovered the joys of cathedral architecture fairly late in life.  Our university fieldtrip to Wessex introduced me to these spectacular buildings - as well as doing the prehistoric Grand Tour, our itinerary took in Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals.  A visit to Durham Cathedral the following year clinched the matter.  I was hooked.

Around the Millennium, a few television series were aired that were devoted to Britain's great cathedrals.  One, 'Cathedral' was presented by an architectural historian.  The other, 'Cathedral Calls', was a more populist programme presented by Janet Street Porter.  Both were very informative and enjoyable, and tthey helped fuel my cathedral interest even more.

These programmes were also responsible for one of my major Embarrassing Moments in architecture.  Faced with this mindblowing overload of Gothic, Romanesque and Perpendicular, I was left with my mind awhirl.  I had a list of cathedrals I was desperate to tick off, and top of the list was Lincoln, with its wonderful scissor arches.  (Medievalists, I know you're fidgeting with embarrassment on my behalf.  And please bear in mind - I'm a prehistorian who just pretends to know about the medieval period and Classical Greece).

The holiday to Lincoln was planned.  I saw the cathedral, and was overwhelmed with excitement.  The following day, I stepped inside, and...  No scissor arches!!!  This made no sense.  Until I found a lovely set of books in a nearby second hand book shop which included a guide to Wells, with its glorious scissor arches.

Oh dear.  A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.  A few years later, I finally made it to Wells.  And oh, boy, was it gorgeous!  So here is my tribute to the glories of Wells Cathedral.  And its famous (!) scissor arches.  It may be on the list of Least Visited Towns in Britain, but if you like medieval architecture and you get the chance, GO THERE!!!

Here's the West Front, with an amazing number of statues still surviving in situ:-

 

And here's a shot looking east towards the famous scissor arches, commissioned by an enterprising Bishop who was having major problems with the structure.  They might be medieval, but they look so sleek and modern in their style, almost anticipating art deco:-

 

Here's a close up of the scissor arches, looking up into the crossing:-

 

And a view of some of the vaulting:-

 

So...  Was it worth the wait?  Absolutely.  When I stepped into the nave and saw those arches, the view took my breath away. 

As for Lincoln...  Was it that much of a let-down?  Well, actually it wasn't.  Lincoln was just as spectacular, but in a different way.  In fact, if I have a top ten list of cathedrals, Lincoln and Wells are both jostling for No. 1 spot, pushing Durham down to 3 (and I am very fond of Durham, believe me).

I'll post more pictures of Wells in due course.