Wells Cathedral seeks Vicars’ Close memories

By Laura Linham 29th Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Wells Cathedral is asking former residents of Vicars' Close to share their memories as work continues on a major project to protect the historic street. The Vicars' Close Project is described by the cathedral as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save the oldest continuously inhabited medieval street in Europe still used for its original purpose.

The project team is now looking for people who used to live on Vicars' Close and can speak about what it was like to call one of Wells' most distinctive streets home. Oral history-trained volunteers can travel to former residents to record their stories.

Those memories will be passed to the South West Heritage Trust for posterity. They may also be used in creative activities and as part of the interpretation in Vicars' Close when the exhibition opens.

The cathedral said the project is the first of its kind for the cathedral and Vicars' Close. It is hoping to hear from as many former residents as possible, as well as people who may know someone with stories to share.

Work is already under way on the project, which has been supported by National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The cathedral is also inviting people to find out more about other ways they can support the project.

Vicars' Close is one of Wells' most photographed and historically important places, but this appeal is about more than stonework and rooflines. The project team wants the lived history too — the everyday stories of the people who knew the street not as a postcard, but as home.

Former residents, or those who know someone who lived there, can contact the project team by emailing [email protected].