What is Wells Cathedral?
[[File: Wells_Cathedral_West_Front_Exterior,_UK_-_Diliff.jpg |thumb|right|300px|The West front of the cathedral. It has about 300 different figures and sculptures. Originally, many of them were painted and gilded.]] [[File:Wells Cathedral Lady Chapel, Somerset, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|right|270px|The Lady Chapel in Wells Cathedral]] [[File:Wells cathedral interior 102.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The star-shaped vault of the Lady Chapel]] [[File:WellsCathPlanDehio.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Plan of Wells Cathedral]] '''Wells Cathedral''' is an [[Anglican]] [[church]] in [[Wells]], [[Somerset]], [[England]]. It is the seat of the [[Bishop]] of [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and Wells. Its construction started in 1170 and the Cathedral was dedicated in 1239. Wells Cathedral has been described as “the most poetic of the English Cathedrals”.<ref name=ACT>{{cite book|first=Alec |last=Clifton-Taylor|title=The Cathedrals of England|year=1967|publisher=Thames and Hudson}}</ref> Much of the structure is in [[Early English architecture]]. Many mouldings look almost like [[sculpture]]s. The carved capitals are done in a foliate style known as “stiff leaf”. This adds to their lively view. The eastern end has kept much original glass, which is rare in England. The exterior has a splendid Early English [[façade]] (~front) and a large central tower.<ref name=ACT/><ref name=TB&C>{{cite book |first= Tim |last=Tatton-Brown |author2=John Crook |title=The English Cathedral |year=2002 |publisher=New Holland Publishers |isbn=1-84330-120-2 }}</ref><ref name=LSS>{{cite book |first=Lawrence |last= Lee |author2=George Seddon, Francis Stephens |title= Stained Glass |year=1976 |publisher= Spring Books |isbn=0-600-56281-6}}</ref> The first church was established on the site in 705. Construction of the present building began in the 10th century under [[Anglo-Saxon]] rule, but was later transformed under the [[Normans]]. It was largely complete at the time of its dedication in 1239. It has been expanded and renovated several times since then and has been desi