GLASTONBURY

Glastonbury is steeped in history and legend and is one of the oldest religious foundations in Britain.

In ancient times an island rising from a vast inland lake, Glastonbury was known to the Celts as `the Isle of Glass` and to the Saxons as `Glastonia` the place where woad grew, a plant used for its blue dye.

According to legend, in 30AD Joseph of Aramathea is said to of reached the Isle of Avalon with eleven disciples. Weary of traveling he sat down on Wearyall Hill and struck his staff into the ground where it sprouted, growing into the first Glastonbury Thorn. Taking this to be a sign, he built the first wattle and daub church at Glastonbury, later to be the wealthiest Abbey in England founded by St. Dunstan in the tenth century.

The first great church was destroyed by fire in 1184, and soon after, during the reconstruction, the bodies of Arthur and Guinevere were discovered and reburied before the High Altar of the new Abbey completed in 1524.

Somerset's most famous landmark stands 525 feet above sea level, the fifteenth century tower of St. Michaels church is a prominent feature, overlooking the Somerset Levels. An earlier church was destroyed by an earthquake on the 11th September 1275.
The last Abbot of Glastonbury, Richard Whiting, and two of his monks were dragged on hurdles to the top and there, hanged, drawn and quartered.
The steep slopes of the Tor are still marked by the terraces of Medieval farming, pilgrims have been drawn to this site for hundreds of years with its connection to early Christianity and the Legend of Arthur and the Isle of Avalon.
Whether you believe in these or not, for those who have ever visited the Tor will agree it is a special place with its own natural beauty and energy.

GEORGE & PILGRIMS HOTEL

An inn built by Abbot John Selwood (1455 - 75) to accommodate pilgrims and other visitors to the abbey. It is the oldest purpose-built public house in the South West. Henry VIII is reputed to have stayed here at the time of the Dissolution.

Dating from the fourteenth century, the courts for this region were held in the first floor courtroom of the Tribunal, with a later stone facade from the early sixteenth century.

Legend has it that it was here that St. Joseph of Arimathea hid the Holy Grail, the cup of the Last Supper. This well is fed by springs, its source from high up on Mendip, and the waters here have a long tradition of healing powers.

This dates from the beginning of the fourteenth century and served as the main grain and hay store for the Abbeys home farm. Today it houses the Somerset Rural Life Museum, an interesting place to visit.

Glastonbury Tor

THE KING ARTHUR CROSS

The leaden plate in the form of a Cross found in King Arthur's grave at Glastonbury Abbey in the reign of King Henry II.

The inscription reads: 
Hic jacet sepultus inclytus Rex Arthurus in Insula Avalonia
("Here lies interred in the Isle of Avalon the renowned King Arthur")

Country Tours

Wells

Priddy