Home Site Map Avebury Stonehenge Glastonbury Hermitage Castle Rosslyn Chapel Callanais Machrie Moor Wayland's Smithy Aldworth Giants Doon Hill Uffington Crossraguel Abbey Castlerigg Cerne Abbas Tomnahurich Clava Cairns Kilmartin Dunadd Spynie Palace St Bees Priory Arbor Low Silbury Hill West Kennet Longbarrow St Moluag's Church St Michael's Mount Long Meg Glastonbury Glastonbury has more than its fair share of legends, folklore and romance, and is probably best known for its Arthurian connections, if you discount the popular music festival. Glastonbury has been attracting visitors for hundreds of years, and it is well worth spending some time visiting its many varied sites. Glastonbury Tor The tor has been associated with magic and mystery for thousands of years. It seems likely that early man used the tor for rituals, and maze like path has been identified spiralling around the tor seven times. Professor Philip Rahtz dated the terraces to the Neolithic period, and concluded that they may have been part of a maze. According to folklore the tor is the home of Gwynn ap Nudd, the king of the underworld and is a gateway into the realm of Annwn. The tower, which crowns the tor, is all that remains of a church dedicated to St Michael, which fell in an earthquake in 1275. Traditionally the tor was the site of a very early wattle chapel built by Joseph of Arimathea, who is said to have landed at Glastonbury (then surrounded by water) after the crucifixion of Jesus. The tor has been the scene of some mysterious light phenomena in recent years. In 1981 people climbing the tor saw a strange writhing light, which arced from the tower and earthed itself near to Chalice Well. The earth mysteries researcher Paul Devereux also witnessed strange lights in 1991. The Chalice Well Glastonbury The Chalice Well has been associated with healing and with the Holy Grail for many years. According to legend Joseph of Arimethea placed the cup that held the blood of Christ into the well. The waters run red with Iron Oxide another association with blood. The well has probably been venerated for many thousands of years as has the whole area, it serves as a meeting place for Pagan and Christian philosophy. A well-publicised cure occurred in 1750, when a local man named Mathew Chancellor dreamt that if he drank the waters of the well every successive Sunday, he would be cured of Asthma. He carried out the actions of his dream and his asthma cleared up. Arthur's Cross This is a reproduction of the cross said to have been found in Arthur's grave at Glastonbury Abbey. The actual grave seems to have been a very early burial but the Arthur link is tenuous. The actual cross disappeared many years ago and the only depiction is from a drawing by William Camden in 1607, from which this picture has been redrawn. It is difficult to ascertain whether the cross is a fake, but it is well known that the monks of the abbey were in dire need of funding at the time. The cross and the finding of Arthur's grave may have been a huge publicity stunt to attract money. To find out more about Arthur and Glastonbury read the article Glastonbury Arthur's Avalon. Map ref: Tor: ST 513 386 Well: ST508 385 Abbey: ST501 387 Directions:Glasonbury Tor is off a minor road from the A361.