The City of Wells
Wells is an ancient cathedral city in Somerset, situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. At the 2021 Census, the Wells parish had a population of 11,145. Wells is widely known as England's smallest city.
The name Wells is associated with the springs, or wells, which rise within the grounds of The Bishop's Palace. Water from these springs has been an important part of the city's history for centuries. In 1451, Bishop Thomas Bekynton granted a conduit bringing fresh water to the citizens of Wells, and water continues to flow along the High Street today.
Wells is home to a wealth of historic buildings and landmarks, including Wells Cathedral, The Bishop's Palace, Vicar's Close and the Grade II listed Wells Town Hall. Wells City Council's offices and meeting chamber are located within the Town Hall.
Wells City Council
Wells City Council is the local council serving the city of Wells. The Council represents local residents and is responsible for a range of local services, facilities, assets and civic functions.
The city has a long history of civic government. A charter granted by King John in 1201 recognised Wells as a free borough or city and is an important part of the city's civic history.
Today, Wells City Council has 16 elected councillors and a Mayor. The Mayor is elected annually by the Council and has both a civic and ceremonial role, including chairing meetings of the Full Council and representing the Council at civic and ceremonial events.
The Council's responsibilities include the management of the Town Hall, Wells Cemetery, public conveniences, allotments and the Wells skatepark. It also manages the city's Wednesday and Saturday markets, supports local clubs and organisations through grants, oversees the Wells in Bloom programme and has a role in city centre management, planning and licensing matters.
Following the transfer of services from Somerset Council in 2025, Wells City Council also took on responsibility for a number of additional local services, including grass cutting, hedge management, play parks, public toilets and trees on council-owned land.
Wells City Archives
Wells City Council is the custodian of Wells City Archives and a collection of civic assets. The archives contain many thousands of original documents, with some records dating back nearly 900 years. They include historic charters, medieval title deeds, maps, plans, photographs and records relating to local organisations, markets and other aspects of civic life.
The Council also cares for a collection of civic artefacts, including portraits, civic gifts, furniture, seals and the City's historic maces.