Optional Tour to Wells Cathedral

Wednesday 27 October 2010 - Visit to the Astronomical Clock in Wells Cathedral, Somerset, built in the late 14th century

Wednesday 27 October 2010
£20 to INSAP Participants

There will be an optional visit to see the Astronomical Clock in Wells Cathedral on the afternoon of Wednesday, 27 October 2010. Wells Cathedral is the lovely gothic cathedral church in the diocese of Bath and Wells.

 

The Clock
The following summary is drawn from the book Wells Cathedral Clock by F Neale & A Lovell (available from the cathedral shop).

The astronomical clock is in the North Transept of the Cathedral. The original works were probably made about 1390 and are considered to be the second oldest clock mechanism in Britain and probably in the world. The inside dials and figures are of the same period, forming the oldest surviving original clock-face of its kind anywhere.

The inside clock consists of the three circles, the outermost, the second and the innermost circle together with the moon plate, which has a medallion of Phoebe, the moon goddess of classical times, with a scroll reading “So travels the Moon” and another reading “ This rounded ball displays a model of the universe in miniature”.

The clock has figures of four horsemen whose painted faces date from the early 17th century, although their clothes are in the style of the late Middle Ages. There is also a figure of Jack Blandifer who strikes the bells of the hours and quarters with his heels. He also strikes the hour on the bell hanging in front of him. The outside clock dial and figures seem to be about a century later than the other figures.

 

The BBC has reported that this clock has been wound by hand for over six hundred years until August 2010. One family in Wells has carried out the task of winding the clock for six generations. The clock will in future be wound mechanically.

Other such surviving astronomical clocks from the 14th and 15th centuries in England include three along the south coast at Exeter, Ottery St Mary and Wimborne Minster which could be reached by car before or after the seminar. For visitors arriving via London, there is the fine clock at Hampton Court created by Nicholas Kratzer and Nicholas Oursain for Henry VIII in 1540. In St Albans cathedral is a 20th century life-sized model of Richard of Wallingford’s astronomical clock of 1336 and half a century later (We owe a great debt to John North for all his work on Richard of Wallingford and his clock).

Schedule
14.00 Leave Bath by coach.
15.00 Arrive Wells
15.15 Lecture on the Inside and Outside Clocks
16.15 Independent visits to the Cathedral and Chapter House and time to walk around lovely small town of Wells
18.00 Leave Wells for Bath

 

Cost: £20 to INSAP Participants