Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor
An enigmatic hill that has been manually shaped in some prehistoric time. Unlike a hillfort, the spiral ridges that encircle the hill do not seem to provide a viable defensive structure. It has been reckoned to be a processional route with mutterings of ‘ritual’. Or by others as the embrace of the great dragon.
Glastonbury Tor is also said to be the mythical Isle of Avalon to which King Arthur was said to be removed after his last battle. The author Dion Fortune remarked that the hill is an island when surrounded by a low-lying mist, and there are large wetlands nearby today.
The tower on Glastonbury Tor is the remains of St Michaels Church - possibly late 13th Century ; a Grade I listed building which also has a legend attached that the church was built to Christianize the formerly Pagan site but that the church was repeatedly destroyed after being rebuilt several times and that only the tower remained - being a Pagan symbol.
Created: 1 May 2022 Edited: 29 November 2023
Glastonbury Tor Details
Glastonbury Tor is a 158 metre high hill in Somerset.
Glastonbury Tor Information
Glastonbury Tor Address
Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury BA6 8BG, UK
BA6 8BG
Glastonbury Tor LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Glastonbury Tor
There are some historic monuments around including:
Beckery Chapel and cemetery (site of)Bishop's palaceRoman villa NW of Two Acre PlantationMedieval farmstead, E of Butleigh WoodThe TribunalEarly Christian settlement and monastic site at Marchey FarmBishop's tithe barnFenny Castle Cross: a medieval wayside cross 20m north west of Castle Farm, CastleDuck decoy 1km south east of Manor FarmBrowne's GateThe Abbey Barn at Abbey FarmBishop's Palace ruined portions, walls and well houseGlastonbury AbbeyLinear earthwork in Butleigh WoodDuck decoy, 590m south west of Rice FarmPart of the Hospital of St Mary Magdalene, Magdalene StreetFenny Castle: a motte and bailey castleSt Michael's Church, monastic remains, and other settlement remains on Glastonbury TorPonter's Ball linear earthworkTinney's trackways, west of Sharpham BridgeGlastonbury lake villageDuck decoy in Sharpham Park, 600m south west of Avalon FarmCompton Dundon hillfort with Dundon Beacon, east of DundonSection of medieval road, south of Pomparles Bridge, north of Street.
