Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small English town famed for its ancient monastic sites and believed connections to religious figures. The town, which lies among the ditches and low meadows of the Somerset plain, boasts a population of 8,800 inhabitants. The small patch of land has been a pilgrimage site for hundreds of years, with spiritual seekers drawn to its ancient ruins, including sites such as Glastonbury Lake Village, Glastonbury Abbey and Glastonbury Tor. The Glastonbury Festival takes place annually in the nearby village of Pilton.
History
The origins of Glastonbury are deeply rooted in myth and religious affiliation. According to the prevailing mythology, the Somerset plain was once a swampy, wet terrain unsuitable for human occupation. The only area in the region that was suitable for settlement, according to this myth, was the high land of Glastonbury. As the most attractive location, the elevated plot of land hosted Romans, Saxons, and an early abbey. According to myth of Glastonbury, Joseph of Arimathea made his way to the famed monastery of Glastonbury, as well as St. Patrick. The Celtic monastery grew from its early origins to become one of the most wealthy religious centers in all of Europe.
The growth of the monastery was fueled by the multitude of myths surrounding the nearby hill, Glastonbury Tor. Many pilgrims who sought guidance at the monastery of Glastonbury also sought time on the hill, which was believed by many to hold the Holy Grail. According to myth, Joseph of Arimathea hid the holy grail in a small church built on the hill. Believers in this version of Glastonbury history hold that the small church built by Joseph was the first Christian Church in England. Under this idea, Glastonbury Tor is seen as the birthplace of British Christianity.
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As the center of the town, the abbey came to dominate life in Glastonbury. Industry in particular was supported by the expanding monastery, as the church began to support the development of tanners and other craftsmen in the area to provide much needed supplies for the abbey. The abbey continued to expand until 1184, when a savage fire destroyed much of the development. (For those seeking a connection to medieval Glastonbury; however, a small portion of the monastic remains are still visible for the inquisitive tourist or pilgrim.)
One particularly prominent myth in the Glastonbury story regards the Glastonbury Thorn (or Holy Thorn). According to legend, Joseph of Arimathea arrived at the monastery at a time when the wet Somerset Levels were only passable by boat. Arriving on the shores of Glastonbury, the legend states that he placed his staff on the shore to steady his step. From where his staff hit the ground of Glastonbury, a small thorny bush sprung up. Many feel that the presence of the Crataegus hawthorn tree in Glastonbury confirms this particular myth, as it is not found to grow anywhere else in the world.
While many of the myths about Glastonbury history focus on the alleged role of Joseph of Arimathea in contributing to the town, a mythological counterpart exists that supports the idea that it was King Arthur, not Joseph of Arimathea, that contributed the most to the town. According to this mythological camp, Glastonbury is the modern manifestation of the mythical city of Avalon, where Arthur and Guinevere were laid to rest. Accounts also claim that Lancelot sought the refuge of Glastonbury Abbey after the death of King Arthur.
Fueled by the legacy of myth, Glastonbury continues to attract hordes of tourists annually who strive to reconnect with ancient times. Most of the tourists seek the ruins of the Abbey, which are still open to visitors. Only small portions of the original structures remain however, both due to the fire that ravaged the town in the early 12th century and the tendency for local builders to use abandoned stones when building modern structures. The Abbot's Kitchen and Lady's Chapel are two strongly preserved edifices.
Culture and People
Glastonbury is an eclectic mix of inhabitants: those who have lived their whole life in Glastonbury, those who have moved to Glastonbury to escape the fast-paced world, and those who are drawn by the spiritual legacy of the city. Priding itself on its vibrant and dynamic character, Glastonbury plays host to many independent thinkers who are simply trying to escape the outside world. Many of the artistic sort who frequent Glastonbury flock to the city during the annual Glastonbury Festival.
The hippie generation of the 1960s and 1970s also contributed heavily to establishing Glastonbury as a center for alternative religious study. The summer solstice of 1971 was a particularly poignant moment in the alternative history of Glastonbury, as nearby hills flooded with people attempting the experience the season change at the mythological site. This mass gathering of spiritual individuals is often compared with Woodstock in the United States for the sheer number of attendees and alternative ideas.
Since the late 1990s, Glastonbury has also hosted an annual Glastonbury Symposium for Crop Circles and Signs of our Time, where attendees attempt to unravel the symbols behind crop circles and similar physical structures. Conferences like the Symposium for Crop Circles are commonly hosted in Glastonbury, and the crop circle enthusiasts are joined by the Goddess Convention, the Avalon Pipers, and an assortment of psychedelic rock bands who experience Glastonbury as a friendly meeting place.
Economy
The economy of Glastonbury maintains many of the characteristics of a traditional market town: local produce is still prominent and market exchange takes place in small scale relationships. Key agricultural products in the lower elevations, that are necessarily more damp, include peat and withes for basket making. Herds of cattle are still a common site roaming the hills of Glastonbury, and the milk drawn from the herds is used to make Cheddar Cheese, the region's distinct type of cheese.
In the higher elevations of Glastonbury, where the air is drier, strawberries and apple orchards dot the landscape. Another common site in the less damp regions is field after field of grape vines. Vineyards have always been a typical agricultural crop of the region, with some historians claiming that the crop can be traced to Roman times.
The nearby village of Street has blossomed from its humble beginnings as a market town into an industrial center. Street is particularly noted for its export of leather shoes by the Clarks family. Despite becoming an export center, however, Street maintains its small town feeling, reassuring many that the encroachments of the future will not change the character of life in Glastonbury.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Ashe, Geoffrey. 1958. King Arthur's Avalon; the story of Glastonbury. New York: Dutton.
- Costantino, Maria. 2001. The Illustrated Flag Handbook. New York: Gramercy Books. ISBN 0-517-21810-0
- Lewis, Brenda Ralph. 2002. Great Civilizations. Bath: Paragon Publishing. ISBN 0-75256-141-3
- DK Publishing, Great Britain (Eyewitness Guide). New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0756615429
External links
- Official town council and community websiteRetrieved December 15, 2007.
- The Glastonbury search engineRetrieved December 15, 2007.
- Isle of AvalonRetrieved December 15, 2007.
- Library of Avalon (specialist esoterica)
- Glastonbury Pilgrimage Association, Annual Christian pilgrimage led by local churches Retrieved December 15, 2007.
- Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre Support and advice for pilgrims researching their visit to Glastonbury Retrieved December 15, 2007.
- Glastonbury, The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey by Clare Gathercole Retrieved December 15, 2007.
- Benedictine Abbey of Glastonbury A History of the County of Somerset: Vol 2: (1911) Retrieved December 15, 2007.
- Photos of Glastonbury in 3d (Anaglyphs) Retrieved December 15, 2007.
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