West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Oh no. How do I delete a post? I'm really sorry for accidentally triggering the next 7 pages which will have nothing to do with WSR operations.

 

...and one of the loveliest. The music there's pretty good as well.

 

Subjectively, I would doubt that, although I haven't been round with my measuring tape. Clifton Cathedral is definitely smaller.

Wells is famously the second-smallest city in England, after London.

 

A good, clear and concise statement of intent goes a long way and is an ideal way to help calm this thread, many thanks.
If I may venture further Dunster is not a 5 minute happening. As one of the few remaining very early members I well remember the many hours collecting loads of dumped signalling equipment stockpiled at Norton. All of this had to go somewhere as the railway was virtually devoid of any signalling when we took over. Masses were collected and placed at BL and DR. A few years ago I was tasked with removing a container from BL to Sherring's yard. It was supposedly 15 tons but a single 20 ton crane locked out and we needed to use 2 cranes to move it. Therefore it is no wonder that there is still masses of equipment waiting for its recall to use. What is needed is dry storage with good access (such as Brunel House provided). Items that are stored outside could be corralled just as the railways did by planting stockade walls of redundant sleepers to hide the general mess of what the public see as a pile of old scrap. What has happened is that over the years the railway has become used to 'keep that it might be useful' and it has been either left on site on dumped at DR or in containers. I think very much a case of out of sight out of mind. Several other railways use these piles to their advantage. Chairs, especially earlier company ones are wire brushed up painted and sold as door stops. Old rail is sawn into 1" lengths and polished, mounted on wooden plinths and sold as paperweights. The revenues from these tasks are formidable. Just as one small group has, at last, started repairing wagons it would be great idea for a small team of volunteers to start cleaning up (pun intended) on the cash value of WSR souvenirs. How about a silver oldies group of cash restorers?

 

I think,of the Medieval Cathedrals in England, Oxford is the smallest. (Mainly if my memory serves me right thanks to Cardinal Wolsley who chopped of several
Norman bays in the Nave of the former Priory Church of St Frideswides to make room for his new foundation. Christchurch.)

The second smallest is Carlisle, also as per Oxford previously a monastic foundation, becoming a Cathedral post the two Dissolutions of the Monasteries.

Wells may be the smallest cathedral with a pre 1539 foundation still functioning as such. (North Elmham is obviously smaller but it's operating, for want of a better word is long since past)

Wells (the overall site not just the Cathedral church alone,) is however undoubtedly of Global significance, apart from its wondrous early English architecture both within and the west end, strainer arches (a wonderful correction to a cock up) and chapter house there are the Bishops Palace, Vicars Close, complete close walls etc etc. A never ending joy to visit although the current entrance arrangements, other than for services, I would suggest are less welcoming than the WSR ! ?

Michael Rowe

 

AIUI Wells is England's smallest cathedral CITY.

 

I worry that Paul Hitch will pop up soon and accuse us of 'Small Cathedral-itis'.

 

...but a slightly different flavour, both architecturally and denominationally.

 

An excellent idea. Every time I see piles of scrap lying around, I see money. There are discarded parts sitting in skips that could be cleaned and mounted on a piece of wood which a collector would pay for.

 

No problem with that!

PH

 

Very true! I suspect Bristol (another former monastic establishment) is also smaller than Wells.

 

I note the disappearance of the GWR running-in board. Ought that to be replaced, or would it be incompatible with the ersatz SDJR identity?

 

As I previously stated, Wells is second smallest in area and population, the smallest being London. The statistics are 8,072 and 1.12 square miles for London, and 10,536 and 2.11 square miles for Wells.

See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smallest_cities_in_the_United_Kingdom for more data. Both, though, have highly impressive cathedrals!

 

Speaking entirely personally, I would prefer to see Washford in colours it bore between 1874 and 1971. But the S&DRT look after it well and so I support their choice to paint it as they wish.

Robin

 

I make no comment on its size, but it is unique.

"It is however known, if only from photographs, by students of architectural history from Tokyo to New York. The unnamed master mason who constructed it employed a unique technique to construct the north and south aisles where the vaults rest on tie beam style bridges supported by pointed arches. This is an architecture which can never be adequately captured by drawings or still photographs, only by the movie camera." (Jenner, Bristol's 100 Best Buildings, Redcliffe Press 2010).

Paul

 

Beware of thinking Wikipedia is always correct. Wells is generally known as England’s smallest city i.e. with a cathedral. The city’s own tourist website headlines it as England’s smallest city.

www.wellssomerset.com

Outside England “city” has a wider usage particularly in the USA where it usually means an incorporated town though in New England township is often used.

 

Isn't 'city' also another name for a sofa?

Robin

 

It's funny how thread drift can be both infuriating and also quite charming.

 

Thread drift? Moi...?

Robin

 

Only in Australia.