Cleeve Abbey was remarkable and, keeping to the theme, we also visited a number of medieval churches in the area.
Evercreech, a small village near Shepton Mallet, has St Peter's church which was built in the 13th to 15th centuries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgfFzZV067T91Og9719J4o07lHiVMURFO8Z0JIuk0-UWFv3cDnGHFel_dJvuic0ActnLjKVakyFSQXcRwSjxjMGxZJHki7x9Fs21isXaiN07tCk3429iXOeuixivX57fYAlzUjBJThKM/s640/P1030655.JPG) |
The church has a large, ornate tower which dwarfs the surrounding cottages |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAVODs6OZfwQLrF8kq1kb6eX331y8Lob3iqXhTPMskarNNARxhP9tCVXfZdo4MuH5-5feSXgnAjC47Qmdj-Pt6vCnmqCw0AkggOqKSaX7vzL6XeGRFFGsAtoP2yS3TuAcHWBFc-sq54w/s640/P1030650.JPG) |
The painting of the nave roof was completed in the 1550s |
Near Cleeve Abbey is St Andrew's church in the village of
Old Cleeve.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK_XdyK-3CwYygJTTShqIjFQGLuGGBKYkwDA4kIE8T0pFiltLcNjI58IRhrNCNF_z3qj7mPjabUjEo9vrHsPDECyuKqVg3EeOfjC6dzcKA8Pi7C4cpW6UURzVQiKFrd4hOVKR983r5RA/s640/P1030602.JPG) |
As we approached Old Cleeve we enjoyed a good view across the Bristol Channel |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePUJmm84RHRIkIkUX_i9mhvalVS6uX9Etgz6ia8SUtSZ-HGTgi_hhPgdb_zFDROk0ELolbO_rBRwgJOuX5k0FGwx2qFsrOmgjAECwQq1RGEGlBOr8o77lm7rkufDUU0AA2yEtROir5bE/s640/P1030611.JPG) |
Much of the floor is covered with medieval tiles made by the monks at Cleeve Abbey |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZne7cy_3Gqwcegbp-UZh7zrfyeqh3OVAvkJeGOL31-ZMu1-4Yflmu4kW-FwLcQibOiapC0SfdIHkA756bFAu1L3caBcM_n6suTemVYKpMv1vRu2gZNac2CR0pMwHdR8Ci40I_tcviXk/s640/P1030612.JPG) |
The tiles are well preserved despite being a similar age to those surviving at the abbey |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy0bl3TgtztuUyyeEcSCVWKWYXk12uYLCtF6HKXTFbq7ZQrOalycLhyEDZ_3UpebkkbCNk_GwupI_KYYO_2WjPdeWprgWN5FjD6J6kgc3-NW3ejfgVazvt07vyu2m5foG3awUPQpMy1U/s640/P1030614.JPG) |
The ornate chandelier dates from the 1770s below an 'angel roof' |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTGWqCCnraA7ujtDVLw1oJzLAv5mina1WZX7dcA5QExVjr0mA1wOtLhtGKGlSoyLJM0M8vCdCjnHLqu5VDf5VmZ0Hmz7jpsBTCnZCIAQ1cvaO11iZWtohGeE3Ie3gn5tekuJInIZean4/s640/P1030620.JPG) |
The poor box is dated 1634 |
After Old Cleeve we moved to
Watchet and St Decuman's church.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_WkbcyGnpl4pMpk5-BvT0Sm80h6eNel2F6W2zWwxZeBFP_-XR2uHpLyE1yHaykpibKUc70BzfEXqbx8f2v3iuIzyT7J3t9yugyKbyoToxWicrnUScju_oK5V2Ap2Ihrr61xX-WJQXR4/s640/P1030631.JPG) |
St Decuman's church has stood on this site since the 13th century |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw22xCfG7Pl1TAupTblHGbJeaBLZAgcPbQadMUejD7noayqsunYBi1OvhPRAteU1ukOqUQVF3F0SYMt-RyHuFKfjud1cXhLZq2GIh87o99bmtpU3n-CBOxPIt-LjDZLriazHL_SkhtEA/s640/P1030623.JPG) |
The interior shares a number of features with nearby Cleeve Abbey ... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PtjodQ6t4_RLFlx4xI80ag6UipwhXh3-HkURFOfUWYYUOlYiuKkIxCp-p_P5FcuU6Tw_faejw-W_Il7t9f3WkuPGIBnzbft80Mn8gtVrvbPtLZSZrTRd1SM_AvLv2HwptGJoZZswFug/s640/P1030625.JPG) |
... including another 'angel roof' ... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_-whIdnG-cs4rJV_szC5eKCfJQPTZA-WZ4qFGZrtOp04L0vj-EUAoCeNpe9F2UUBHdUYc5vPsORGJ7UCyiWIPuRO_f2O3HqBPyxa_EWYIjZlzDHDEBf9QZDsuW7WUMUaZd5s8N_L6DI/s640/P1030624.JPG) |
... and medieval tiles on the floor |
Somerset has a large number of ancient churches and we only had time to visit a few of them. We wanted to end our tour at
Wells, a small city with a population of around 12,000 but with a very fine cathedral.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotR5RoiORhV5TQ3Uury1FYmNqXFQWkO8-fgd7nnWFWoJ2BhdjPxONR-sJFILd99bCyzhWLbQLWqwdS9jmRxYz1s0Z0lazAn-RgFvsLvJIYOIu8FkitOtqv82eZHy6fcCNJ5iGW3_-dq0/s640/P1030660.JPG) |
The cathedral can be enjoyed at a distance from Cathedral Green. The west front includes many sculptures of prophets, angels and other icons, mostly life-size or larger |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ZOC6WjIQSohpq_cUew912MjHQOUHYgsA9Wsmn003kVSkn2GVrmY3lfUxGnMJDKwA2d2O_CCZ1wUhYHJ2q8cYifcJSqoN-2slsyYQtYOWTFdm5AUWDSoOjF7NYgR1EXagHn5Ro2Ryyo/s640/P1030664.JPG) |
The west front is said to be the finest collection of medieval sculptures in England |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi5q3K1PYQZekqIymADs8RlPFsnxdHbhRk_5MJsyctOYDdvIQ2Ov9hE9u0GsQl0tLy9Z9rwKwKxNUbX7YRX3k8V10oB6HYA8c6XqME8_KzoTXDvfmz9SqCDMmGSA21gEpKI9WVOJBPfE/s640/P1030668.JPG) |
The fine stone work continues inside |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4CSSlwEylBmn7zmcdvR30TD4QvvOVvWaimsaDPzoDpPJQsjXs920oKkXydP_cCpOmui_sQ0NrlpkFvDhgEncTxWizsoFXDK5catane_O5DOzsFy4pD7da9k0eq8mWbtz6TojZk9at_I/s640/P1030673.JPG) |
Every tiny detail is finished to perfection |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi09I40KDQ_7ZYFLQkHFVnrxdUCHiv1PLO_osGrjdB3xCwtgu3cJOwGSpUU8yR06OALcQ34NGxe8f8jk1XY7Hhs0DYrU4ETZDU3UOromF6gswxh6aeemALDyUQLkJq_X33Bv7cAAA9Xuk/s640/P1030674.JPG) |
Biblical symbolism is everywhere |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQJqNPVu_rKxSHrcwxIszPF2z5Yi67AJLFOrkfZAE1QbtorNEhX_LnsvKMYZzkMSR_EYf-MtI5QMJZd_7yFmyvJ50TZv60GYtYmjmPHEXmBWFvNqEa9hDLnmoR4n0z8AZAaBkav9fTls/s640/P1030667.JPG) |
The fine decoration includes the ceilings |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gm9fclzZypulpTnXuqYqSCSdeOniOcgT4CAw96kdO7b6lKom5DM5e2Zdf1tQaebDuJLt3B2M-meJwGMeXuVVjft_xQeqvtn7Ycwkm3hQCTb03pwMiSz0VtJ4aAkIrDweYQnsWXhh0lA/s640/P1030683.JPG) |
The five windows of the Lady Chapel, four of which are madeup of fragments of medieval glass |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2KPzyH-lEHLAocXl7_1jZtSAPdDIJGBb-Ig2D8_PmGUxXSu-pye9JIdXt0jPzuFZMsHK4mA7KcA4ohR38P3CQobFM-fsBloLsW0cMbOFLnpWpVB8Nh1PQRcrMCaLNhPLmRPKF09JYDM/s640/P1030684.JPG) |
The rich colours illuminate the chapel |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKxmvSWBBZe8udXh-PvMtZdMy-D-JHdKyt-4iKvxVz3wlcySupWl1VgZm-5LbgbHwhD2Je8WOOOtABPcgJS3h1QDDsYDJcRILO3s3FRmCOTjd666Kccs7YFrN1CDRRQ7_7aRf_NOupok/s640/P1030691.JPG) |
The fine stonework continues to the cloisters |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79pw95DWjEu6yYVfAoen-de9pMk0lDwZ1L-Ic8vxfozJWsRbfwHHQABMNll_lnXKCiq_4vg-8p_j4JJiQGfg_EPIejnMK82SCdlbEPRbtoh11Te8__0lzgaKz7QkTCUNxfb5YYD1jS_8/s640/P1030677.JPG) |
The fan ceiling of the adjacent Chapter House is said to resemble palm trees |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfNAtA3zvD3Lyi1MrLmqX3TlgsmUXT20mvzsH0YOoIHkZjxvjaRDBuU4DIHEAVLo3NoQ2qju6KTdBh-7A7BcUJ9pyrqC4grIpW4RP72_Ulf7wh0VLS_x8OG-MxnhIpYnrQWml3nGXtLE/s640/P1030678.JPG) |
The octagonal building has seating round the edge for the canons who discussed cathedral matters |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1vlJybTAb57Po7Qc7-2-QifepuI3yOz_YlMmvGvJ4sbPV66YarhIhdMrlssNbmCQS_qhpNdc-zp6v679oxCIK0FXOJ7WLv4k0iB9uclVHVB8R-XUCBNsG5-ZcP09PXFnnI44D9VD7pI/s640/P1030700.JPG) |
The catheral of often seen looming above the low buildings in the pretty, historic city |
The medieval worshippers of Somerset wanted to create the best possible churches, bringing all the skills available at the time - including floor tiles, stone carvings, beautiful windows. Some 900 years later we can only gaze in awe at the results of their devotion.