FOUNDATION: RECENT CAPITAL PROJECTS

Cedars Hall

Wells Cathedral School has built a world class performing arts venue, Cedars Hall. Designed by leading London architect, Eric Parry, this has been the most audacious development in the school’s history.

Cedars Hall provides sought after rehearsal, teaching and performance space for the school’s 200 specialist musicians and serves as a hub for its significant community outreach, which provides music education, including workshops, concerts and master classes, for thousands of primary school children, elderly and disability groups in the South West each year.

With capacity for audiences of 350, the main recital hall is a flexible and modern performance space; it accommodates an orchestra of 60 performers and an audience of 250, with other configurations possible through adaptation of seating and platforms. Whilst the hall’s award-winning design has been devised to give chamber musicians the very best acoustic experience, the flexibility of the technical specification means that this venue is accessible for performers of every discipline – for amplified music, dance, drama and lectures.

Cedars Hall includes three further teaching and practice spaces, each adjoining unique observation facilities as well as a foyer, bar and storage. Featuring state-of-the-art recording facilities, Cedars Hall is a venue for broadcast quality production, reflecting industry standards.

Sports Pavilion

Our sports pavilion, which has been built by local construction firm Biggs, was part of an innovative new complex on Cedars Field, which included the new maintenance building (also built by Biggs) and Cedars Hall (built by Shaylor).

The pavilion was designed by award-winning architect Eric Parry and includes two changing rooms on the lower floor, with separate changing facilities for referees, showers, a disabled lift between floors and lots of room for kit storage. The upper level includes spectator seating with stunning views across Cedars Field and a meeting reception room and bar.

Built to Sport England Guidance Standards, the sports pavilion has used materials which complement the character of Wells and has been finished with timber.

On match days the reception room is used to provide lunch or snacks and drinks for up to 30 people. In the evenings, it is a space where players and friends can relax and socialise together. It also serves as a headquarters for Old Wellensians where former students have enjoyed meetings and social gatherings.

The pavilion was inaugurated by Old Wellensian Danny Nightingale, who cut the ribbon on 21st June 2015, at an event attended by a host of donors, Old Wellensians, parents, pupils and friends.

The fundraising efforts were led by former parent Phil Lemanski, whose committee of volunteers supported the Foundation’s fundraising target of £600,000. 

The Cook Building

The Cook building in the Laundry Garden was opened in March 2010 to provide mathematics classrooms and social and play space for children in the Senior School.