Vicars’ Close

A photograph of Vicars Close in Wells, Somerset - a beautiful cobblestoned street with old houses either side. A group of people are seen walking long a central path connecting the houses from an archway at the end of the street.

Vicars’ Close in Wells, Somerset, England, is claimed to be the oldest purely residential street with original buildings surviving intact in Europe. 

Direct Access was appointed to improve the site’s accessibility measures for disabled people while safeguarding the site’s historic significance and grandeur.

From identifying areas to increase step-free access to offering new accessible media options which allow visitors partially sighted visitors to experience its beauty, our team aimed to ensure that Vicars Close could be enjoyed by visitors of any age, creed, or ability. 

Direct Access delivered a report detailing adjustments that would ensure disabled visitors and tourists of all abilities and backgrounds could be welcomed to the site and their access requirements readily considered.

Our accessibility appraisal tied in with the wider heritage and conservation project “Vicars’ Close: A Medieval Street Singing Through the Centuries”. Our team ensured that each element of this will be as accessible as possible to all disabled people in accordance with best-practice access standards.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save this internationally significant historic site, Direct Access worked directly alongside Wells Cathedral to create a legacy that not only safeguards the future of Vicars’ Close but also an exciting new visitor experience and program of events to uncover and celebrate the local heritage of this beautiful cobble-street site.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Direct Access logo.

United Kingdom

Pepper House,
Market Street,
Nantwich,
Cheshire,
CW5 5DQ.		Old Town Hall,
30 Tweedy Rd,
Bromley,
BR1 3FE.                   

Ireland

77 Camden Street Lower,
Dublin,
D02 XE80.

Quick Links

Inclusive Guides

Explore our free guides on accessibility and inclusion, crafted by our experts. Click Here.

Follow Us

Facebook-f
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube
Linkedin
Skip to content
MENU