WELLS, a seaport town of England, in the county of Norfolk, on an inlet of the German Ocean, 33 miles N.W. by N. of Norwich. It consists of two principal streets; and has a large church in the later English style with a lofty tower; places of worship for Wesleyan and Primitive
Methodists, Independents, and Quakers; several schools, a custom-house, and a theatre. Ship-building, rope-making, brewing and malting, are the chief manufactures; and there are oyster-fisheries along the coast. The harbour was at one time much choked up with sand; but has been recently improved, and a quay built accessible to vessels of 150 tons. Pop. of the parish (1851), 3633.