Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Glastonbury Abbey is a ruined abbey at Glastonbury, Somerset. As a Saxon foundation it followed a long tradition of Christianity within the immediate vicinity; an earlier Christian site, perhaps one of the earliest monastic sites in Britain, is attested on Glastonbury Tor to the east of the Abbey. The founding of a pre-Conquest Benedictine abbey on the flat ground below Glastonbury Tor indicates the importance of the site at an early stage. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, Glastonbury Abbey was the wealthiest monastic house recorded in the land. The abbey benefited in the mediæval period from its fame as the legendary burial place of King Arthur; the monks reportedly found the body of Arthur in 1191. Pilgrims were attracted by this and by the claim that the abbey held the relics of St Dunstan. Whatever the truth of this, Glastonbury Abbey became one of the most important Christian centres of mediæval times with continued use by the Benedictines up until 1539. Although the abbey suffered heavily from the Dissolution, its plan and extent are well known and parts of its major buildings survive and attract multitudes of visitors. The 14th-century Abbott's Kitchen survives intact, as does the 14th-century Abbey Barn. Abbey House is a Tudor Gothic house was built in 1829-1830 by John Buckler from the stones of the abbey ruins for John Fry Reeves. The monument is within the council area of Somerset.
Historic England Scheduled Monument 1021077.

Place Type: Ecclesiastical Monument
Historic County: Somerset
Lat, Long: 51.146567,-2.715567
Grid Reference: ST 5004 3883
Civil Parish: Glastonbury CP
Council Area: Somerset CA
Police Area: Avon and Somerset PA

GBPN ID: 319312
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Glastonbury_Abbey,_Somerset_319312

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