Wells Cathedral: Raking view of west facade and side Chapter House

The west front, completed ca. 1250, has about 300 remaining medieval statues; many of the figures, and their niches, were originally painted and gilded. The Chapter House was completed 1306.\u000a\u000aThe present cathedral, dedicated to St. Andrew, was built in two major periods: ca. 1185-1240 and ca. 1275-1350. It contains fine sculpture, monuments and stained glass. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace. A unique feature in the crossing are the double pointed inverted arches, known as owl-eyed strainer arches, to stop the central tower from collapsing. The architect of the arches is unknown and the date is debated, ca. 1338-1350. Overall the cathedral's first phase was pointed Late Romanesque, transitioning into Early English--the beginnings of Gothic. The Perpendicular west towers were added ca. 1370 (south, by William Wynford) and ca. 1410.