Childhood home of Elizabeth Goudge

The Principal's House, Wells, UK

The Principal’s House, “The Rib,” just behind Wells Cathedral, was the childhood home of Elizabeth Goudge.

“I began to write as a child in the Principal's House at Wells and have scarcely left off since. I began with an interminable story that was intended to be funny but as the only character I can remember is a fat man stuck in a chimney it was probably only vulgar. This work was never finished because I became so absorbed in it that I forgot to feed my caterpillars, and they died. In grief and remorse I abandoned writing for the time being. When I took it up again I kept to short pieces, poems and fairy stores, perhaps feeling they would be less dangerous to the life of others.”

🍂 Elizabeth Goudge, The Joy of the Snow

A tale of two houses…

Like a princess born in a palace, Elizabeth Goudge was born into the Church of England and had the wonderful fortune to live her childhood in one of the most magical little cathedral towns in England. Wells may be known as the “smallest city in England,” but it certainly contains more than its fair share of preserved ecclesiastical buildings.

We took a look at Goudge’s birthplace at Tower House last week, and today we take a look at the location, interior and garden of her second childhood home, The Rib.

The south face of The Rib, childhood home of Elizabeth Goudge.

Childhood: The Principal’s House, “The Rib”

According to Goudge’s biographer, Christine Rawlins, the “Bishop's Rib” is an ancient name for the mediaeval Principal's House.¹ Goudge’s magical second home is adjacent to the magnificent Wells Cathedral, and it was a wonderful place for Goudge to grow up. It gave her much scope for her imagination during her early years:

“Although Elizabeth was born in Tower House, it was her home only until she was two years old. Then Father was promoted to Principal of the College and the little family of three - her mother Ida, the Reverend Goudge and his little Beth, as he called her - moved across the road to the Principal's residence. Another beautiful and historic house, it had ‘dark corners and passages that were wonderful for hide-and-seek,’ she remembered. The move brought them into even closer proximity to the Cathedral - it was now in fact their next-door neighbour, for only a narrow strip of land separates the house from the Cathedral's glorious east windows and Lady Chapel; and its large garden adjoins the Cathedral grounds and the gardens of the moated Bishop's Palace beyond…”²

The south-facing garden of the Rib is in full sun during mid-day. It has the shade of Wells Cathedral in the west over it later in the day. Photo from NGS

Finding The Rib