Glastonbury Abbey Ruins

Glastonbury Abbey, eighth-century abbey in Somersetshire, England, now in ruins. Tradition has it that Joseph of Arimathea established the first Christian church in England at the site of Glastonbury Abbey. The West Saxon king Ine founded the abbey at Glastonbury during the 8th century, and it was greatly expanded by Saint Dunstan, who became abbot about 940. The abbey was favored by the English kings and was among the richest and most influential monasteries in England. Though damaged by fire in 1184, the abbey was rebuilt by English king Henry II. Glastonbury Abbey was among those secularized by English king Henry VIII, who founded the Church of England. It became associated with the legends of the Holy Grail and King Arthur in the tenth century.

Photo by: jackiesjottings

Photo by: andrew boatswain

Photo by: Andy Malone

In 1184, a great fire at Glastonbury destroyed the monastic buildings. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, which includes the well, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the twelfth century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. If pilgrim visits had fallen, the discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's grave in the cemetery in 1191 provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury.

Photo by: FreakyNami

Photo by: chuck624

Photo by: deegs

According to two accounts by the chronicler, Giraldus Cambrensis, the abbot, Henry de Sully, commissioned a search, discovering at the depth of 16 feet (5 m) a massive hollowed oak trunk containing two skeletons. Above it, under the covering stone, according to Giraldus, was a leaden cross with the unmistakably specific inscription Hic jacet sepultus inclitus rex Arthurus in insula Avalonia ("Here lies interred the famous King Arthur on the Isle of Avalon").