
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey is a ruined abbey located in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The abbey was founded in the 7th century AD, and enlarged in the 10th century. It was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. The ruins became a tourist attraction after they were restored in the 19th century.
The monument includes part of the standing, ruined, and buried remains which together form the greater part of Glastonbury Abbey and its former medieval precinct. The abbey is sited in the center of the town of Glastonbury and, from its foundation in pre-Conquest times until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, it was protected by a precinct wall which separated the religious community from those outside. It was one of the richest, and at times the richest, of all the Benedictine houses in England.
The pre-Conquest abbey is represented only by remains incorporated into later structures. The oldest parts are two churches which were built before 1066 on either side of Lady Chapel Road that runs through Glastonbury town center. These include fragments of standing walls as well as buried remains visible during excavations below street level. The foundations of a stone building, probably the monks’ dormitory, were uncovered during 19th century excavations on the north side of the abbey church.
Created: 1 May 2022 Edited: 29 November 2023
Glastonbury Abbey Information
Glastonbury Abbey Address
Magdalene St, Glastonbury BA6 9EL, UK
BA6 9EL
Website: http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Glastonbury Abbey
There are some historic monuments around including:
The easternmost of three duck decoys on Walton MoorRoman villa NW of Two Acre PlantationPonter's Ball linear earthworkFenny Castle: a motte and bailey castleMedieval farmstead, E of Butleigh WoodThe TribunalFenny Castle Cross: a medieval wayside cross 20m north west of Castle Farm, CastleSection of medieval road, south of Pomparles Bridge, north of StreetDuck decoy, 950m south west of junction of Westhay Moor Drove and Lewis's DroveTinney's trackways, west of Sharpham BridgeDuck decoy, 590m south west of Rice FarmGlastonbury lake villageBeckery Chapel and cemetery (site of)St Michael's Church, monastic remains, and other settlement remains on Glastonbury TorDuck decoy in Sharpham Park, 600m south west of Avalon FarmCompton Dundon hillfort with Dundon Beacon, east of DundonThe Abbot's Fish House and fishpondsDuck decoy 1km south east of Manor FarmPart of the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene, Magdalene StreetGlastonbury AbbeyBrowne's GateLinear earthwork in Butleigh WoodEarly Christian settlement and monastic site at Marchey FarmBishop's palaceCentral of three duck decoys on Walton Moor, south of Lord Bath's DroveThe Abbey Barn at Abbey Farm.