Glastonbury and Wells

It was great to visit that place that was once called Avalon.  We stayed on the slopes with the Tor above us looking out at what was once the sea of Avalon!  There is so much historical and spiritual significance to the town of Glastonbury it begs the question; why so much in such a little place? It is beautiful and peaceful!

Lets start with the legend of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. They are reputedly buried at Glastonbury Abbey. Legend has it that the king and queen were brought to the Island of Avalon by boat after Arthur was mortally wounded in battle.  In the late 1100s there was a fire at the abbey and during the rebuilding two skeletons were apparently uncovered by builders. 

A plaque now marks this spot.

Jospeh of Arimathea, the uncle of Jesus, is said to have travelled to Avalon with his nephew and here they built a place of worship made from wattle and daub.  This was the first church built on the site of Glastonbury Abbey.  Whatever the real history of this site, it is beautiful and peaceful.  And even though Henry VIII destroyed the abbey during the reformation it still seems apropriate to walk around the ruins as if in a holy church.

Later, Joseph was given the Holy Grail, the mystical vessel which had been used to celebrate the Last Supper and which caught some of the blood of the crucified Christ as he hung upon the cross. After the Resurrection, Joseph returned to Britain with the cup.  Apparently for safe keeping, Joseph buried the Holy Grail just below the Tor at the entrance to the Underworld. Shortly after he had done this, a spring, now known as Chalice Well, flowed forth and the water that emerged brought eternal youth to anyone that would drink it.  Both Pauline and I drank from this well and the results are amazing!!

BEFORE



AFTER

Continuing the legend of Joseph, it is claimed that when he landed on the island of Avalon, he set foot on Wearyall Hill - just below the Tor. Exhausted, he thrust his staff into the ground, and rested. By morning, his staff had taken root - leaving a strange mediteranean thorn bush now called the sacred Glastonbury Thorn.  A descendent of this original bush has grown upon this hill ever since and also in the Chalice Gardens.  A cutting from this Holy Thorn Tree is sent to the queen every year for the royal dinner table. 

There you have it - Jesus, Joseph, King Arthur and Henry VIII!! And all in a small town that doesn't even have a supermarket!

As we left Glastonbury we paid a visit to Wells cathedral because everyone kept telling us we have to - Wells is the smallest city in England. The cathedral is beautiful, it contains a 600 year old clock and unique arches called scissor arches.  It was the first ever Gothic style building in England, so consequently it has amazing sculptures on the front facade.

From Avalon to Wells to Wales - stay tuned for further adventures!