SONG - Fly Like an Eagle by Steve Miller Band
Day 6 - Sunday May 5
Above is Mr. B hamming it up for me in the Bishop’s Gardens in Wells
On Sunday morning it was sputtering rain and crowds in Bath. We had breakfast at The Abbey Deli which was only a block from our hotel and it was where the Modeste clothing shop in Bridgerton (hi Jess) was filmed!
So we decided to head to Wells and see rain & crowds there!!! We passed beautiful English countryside- green hills, mustard fields, sheep with baby lambs, stone walls & churches, so very relaxing until we hit the narrow single track with hedgerows. Once parked in Wells under a heavy mist we decided to go to the Cathedral first to give the weather a chance to improve.
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Wells Cathedral
We marveled at the famous scissor arches c1340…..
And the c1390 astronomical clock with the jousting knights that run around every 15 minutes. Not to be missed!
To the right of the clock, and up high on the wall, is a figure that strikes a bell at every quarter which sets off the jousters…..
Wells Starway to Heaven heavily worn by use….
A gargoyle or grotesque sticking out his tongue and according to the Gloucestershire government app…
“ Tongue-poker - Many gargoyles are poking their tongues out and blowing a raspberry. This wasn't rude like today because in medieval times this gesture was used against traitors, heretics and blasphemers”
An ancient door in the undercroft……
A chapel ceiling…….
A miséricorde (divine mercy) which allowed the priest or bishop to rest a bit while still standing - basically a quarter seat…..
We then headed to the Bishop’s Gardens to see the Palace ruins and the famous “Ringing Swans”! I have waited years to see them as I had read about them 8 years ago when we were planning our 2017 trip to the UK. And when we got here I was sad to find out that one had died and the caretaker had moved to the US. But today they had two healthy swans (Grace & Gabriel) who had just had six cygnets just 3 weeks ago.
As soon as the guide saw me eyeing the swan in the moat and the bell by the window, he suggested that I wait and he would try to see if he could get the male swan to ring the bell.
The guide went into the gatehouse and opened the window and wiggled the rope to get the swans attention. As soon as Gabriel spotted the wiggling rope he swam nearby but waited a bit to pull the rope. Finally he did several times and the guide tossed some food into the water.
I was ecstatic….Of course 300 pigeons arrived as soon as they heard the bell ringing. They weren’t going to miss out on a free meal! The second guide told me that he thought mama swan & her babies were just around the corner of the moat after I told him my tale from 7 years ago. So Mr. B and I walked around the croquet lawns and into the gardens. We also discovered the it was English Civil War Weekend. Mr. B just can’t seem to catch a break from re-enactment entertainment.
We walked around the “camp” and into the beautifully manicured gardens around the palace & ruins. So soothing and fascinating to see what plants grow in this environment. Near a bridge that crossed part of the moat, we found mama swan, Grace and her babies. She looked so protective and proud.
We finished our garden tour and headed to the car park to drive over to our final destination for the day - the Vicars Close. Mr B found a perfect parking spot just behind the cathedral and in front of the Close.
It is known as “Oldest purely residential street with its original buildings all surviving intact in Europe” completed in 1430. It has a chapel at one end and a hall at the other with a walkway over the street to the Cathedral.
When we returned to Bath, we decided to have an early Sunday roast dinner at The Elder. Yum!
It was proper…..
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