city-wells-almshouses

Tickets now available

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:14:10 GMT

Saturday November 14th 2026: Tickets now available for Theseus and the Minotaur in the Chapel!

We are excited to host dramatic tales from ancient Greece told by Beth Webb, woven with music and song by Jenny Bliss Bennett on Saturday November 14th 2026 in the beautiful surroundings of the Chapel.

See more here https://youtu.be/4cNh9zVd0j8

Please follow the eventbrite link to purchase your tickets for ‘Theseus and the Minotaur’ :

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/theseus-and-the-minotaur-tickets-1999697404768

Open Day, Saturday 20th September 2026 11am-4pm

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:14:08 GMT

We will be open from 11 am until 4 pm on Saturday, with the Simply Uke! Ukelele band playing in the chapel from 1 pm – 2pm

We will be open from 11 am until 4 pm on Saturday, with the Simply Uke! Ukelele band playing in the chapel from 1 pm – 2 pm

The communal areas and gardens will be open, accompanied by a walking guide for informational purposes.

There will be no refreshments served this year

The Bishop re-dedicates our chapel June 26th 2025

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:57:02 GMT

Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverand Michael Beasley, conducted the service with the help of Reverend Prebendary Sam Denyer of St Cuthbert’s church and Revd Edward Day, Curate to the cathedral.

A wonderful re-dedication ceremony and service were held in our newly renovated chapel last week, with a garden party afterwards.

It was a truly joyous occasion for all who attended.

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Communion services will begin on Thursday, 3rd July at 11 am.

The Christian Meditation group will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, starting from Tuesday, 1st July.

Group visits to the chapel and almshouses are welcome as well as any other community groups who wish to use the chapel.

For more information, please email info@wellsalmshouses.org.uk

We welcome our new CEO : February 6, 2024

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:28:00 GMT

We welcome our new CEO, Michelle Thomas to the almshouses.

We welcome our new CEO, Michelle Thomas to the almshouses. With over thirty years of experience in housing and housing development, Michelle brings a wealth of skills to our charity and will be a driving force for a new future

We welcome the new Dean of Wells, January 17th 2024

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:15:25 GMT

We are pleased to welcome Reverend Canon Toby Wright,

We are pleased to welcome Reverend Canon Toby Wright, who has been appointed, upon approval by King Charles, the new Dean of Wells. Canon Toby will also become a Trustee of the almshouses.

We welcome HRH the Duke of Gloucester, October 16th, 2023

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:09:47 GMT

The Residents, staff and trustees were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to the Bubwith site, its almshouses and chapel on Monday 16 ^th October 2023.

The Duke addresses residents & trustees and the Patron of the chapel project, Mrs Annie Maw. Photo one: Richard Gray

The Duke talks with residents and trustees, with staff in the background. Photo two: Richard Gray

The Residents, staff and trustees were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to the Bubwith site, its almshouses and chapel on Monday 16 ^th October.

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, is the Royal Vice Patron for The Almshouse Association, a membership charity that supports a network of over 1600 independent almshouse charities throughout the United Kingdom. Almshouse Association members manage more than 30,000 almshouses, providing vital housing solutions for approximately 36,000 individuals in need, contributing significantly to local community housing.

During his visit, His Royal Highness engaged with residents, staff, and trustees, and was given a guided tour of the medieval buildings, gardens, chapel and Guildroom by Chair of Trustees Stewart Cursley and resident trustee James Fane-Gladwin.

The Duke was particularly interested in the Bubwith chapel which was built in the 15th Century and is currently subject to an exciting project to restore it into a new community space in Wells, supported by National Lottery players.

Resident Mo Joyce welcomed him into her flat, where he enjoyed the view overlooking the walled garden. The visit culminated in a gathering in the Guildroom, where His Royal Highness joined residents for a piece of cake and some enjoyable conversation.

Many of The Duke’s Patronages are related to architecture and conservation, both areas in which The Duke remains deeply interested. He was elected a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1972 and he is President of the Scottish Society of the Architect-Artists. His fellowships include those of the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

His Royal Highness is a supporter of several architectural preservation societies, including the Kensington Society and the Victorian Society, as well as the International Council on Monuments and Sites, UK National Committee.

Chair of Trustees Stewart Cursley said, “It was an honour to meet His Royal Highness who was particularly interested in the chapel and its plans for the future, and we thank him for his kind visit. I would also like to thank the staff and trustee members who organised the visit and the residents who attended on the day.”

£158,490 grant to restore The Bubwith Chapel, August 4th, 2023

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:01:14 GMT

We are celebrating news that we have received a grant of £158,490 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for an exciting heritage project to restore the Bubwith Chapel in Wells Somerset.

Pictured outside the chapel are: Trustees Chris Vigar MBE, Sarah Powell, Stella Ainsworth,James Fane-Gladwin and Philip Welch; residents Maureen, Reg, Peter and Mo;and Louise Lappin-Cook, and Caroline Tollworthy.

We are celebrating news that we have received a grant of £158,490 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for an exciting heritage project to restore the Bubwith Chapel in Wells Somerset. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on restoring this Medieval Chapel and providing a new vital space in the centre of Wells.

The project will develop and transform the chapel making it both a visitor destination in Wells and a vital community space in the city. The restored chapel will provide a continuing place of worship, mindfulness and contemplation, and a warm space for activities to reconnect older residents and local community groups as well as hosting concerts, recitals, lectures, workshops, seminars and rehearsals.

The project has already received support from Mendip Communities Fund, The Blair Foundation, Wessex Water and community backing through a sponsored walk by Trustee Chris Vigar, as well as investment from Wells City Almshouses themselves. HLF funding and backing is now the crucial support to save this community asset and begin work on restoring the medieval chapel to full use.

Since the 1400s Wells City Almshouses have been supporting those with housing needs in Wells. With five Almshouse buildings on either side of Priest Row, the Trust provides housing for older people with a housing need in the very centre of the city.

The Bubwith Chapel was built in the early 15th century. Originally called St Saviour’s Hospital it was established to support some of Wells’ poorest and most vulnerable citizens. The Chapel has not been greatly altered since its inception. It is a grade II* listed building of national importance. However, aside from a weekly service, this historic gem has been largely hidden from public view. The Bubwith Chapel is an especially important building in Wells’ history as it embodies the unwritten history of Wells’ poorest and most at-risk communities. As part of this restoration the project team seeks to capture, document, and animate this important local history for visitors to the city and make this a new destination on Wells’ tourist map.

Commenting on the award, Stewart Cursley, Chairman of the board of trustees said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players – we have been developing plans for some time and are delighted to have the opportunity to restore the Bubwith Chapel and to ensure this building retains its original purpose as well as becoming a vital part of Wells’ community landscape and an important place for people to connect.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support this project, which thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, will restore this Grade II* listed building. When it was built in the 15th century, Bubwith Chapel was an integral part of its community and it’s fantastic that its restoration will once again create space and opportunities to bring the people of Wells together.”

Two new almshouse properties are opened, 3 January 2019

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 12:34:59 GMT

On 3 January 2019, we officially opened two new almshouse properties, no.s 16 and 17 Llewellyn’s

Nick Wilson, the Chair of Trustees, gave a speech about the properties with the Mayor of Wells, Celia Wride, cutting the ribbon. Guests were then invited to look inside the two properties. Felicity White, Wells City Council’s Town Clerk said, “On behalf of the Council we are delighted to see the completion of the work which is maximizing the use of the space for residential properties. We are especially pleased as this work also concludes the project to provide better glazing to each almshouse residence. The accommodation itself is beautifully presented.”

The two properties were previously the Almshouses’ office building which has since been relocated to a smaller almshouse. This relocation and the conversion has created one additional residence, bringing the total number of almshouses to 33. The properties have been converted to modern standards with both having a wet room and secondary glazing. The majority of the Llewellyn’s properties are cottages but the two new conversions consist of two flats, one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor. The Llewellyn’s almshouses were originally built in 1638 from a legacy from Henry Llewellyn an Alderman of the City. However, the current almshouses date from the Victorian rebuild of the site.

Wells Contemporary Art Exhibition

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:58:29 GMT

Wells Contemporary Art Exhibition; 10th October - 7th November 2026

As part of a Community Art Project, one of our residents was nominated by The City of Wells Almshouses as an unsung hero and his portrait was painted by a "Portrait Artist of the Year" Finalist.

Heritage Open Day 20th September 2025

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:59:00 GMT

Heritage Open Day - 20 September 2025

We will be open from 11 am until 4 pm on Saturday , with the Simply Uke! Ukelele band playing in the chapel from 1 pm – 2 pm.

The communal areas and gardens will be open, accompanied by a walking guide for informational purposes.

There will be no refreshments served this year

Founders’ Day

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:51:17 GMT

Founders' Day, October 24th, 2025

We held a delightful Founders’ Day service in our chapel, and afterwards in the Guildroom, where

residents, trustees and guests mingled and enjoyed tea and cakes.

We thank The Heritage Lottery Fund

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:40:30 GMT

A Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its grant to restore the Bubwith St Saviour’s Chapel.

We want to again offer special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its grant to us, made possible with National Lottery players, to restore the Bubwith St Saviour’s Chapel.

We would also like to thank all those others who donated to the project.

We are happy to say the chapel is, with its sustainable Heat pump underfloor heating, now warm and dry (a distinct improvement) and is already being used by two community groups in Wells: the Christian Meditation Group and a bereavement group.

For more information about joining the groups or hiring the chapel, please contact: info@wellsalmshouses.org.uk