Random encounters with the unusual: A Tour of the Tor

Sunday, 18 May 2014

A Tour of the Tor

Having never visited Glastonbury Tor before, I decided to pay a visit in March to see what it is all about. Glastonbury Tor is possibly one of the most well written about locations in the UK, and most people will have some knowledge of the legends that are associated with this site.

Glastonbury Tor is a hill that stands prominently in the flat landscape of the Somerset levels and it is topped by a tower (St Michael’s Tower). Archaeological evidence suggests that the Tor has been regularly visited since pre-history, and it is believed that a number of buildings were constructed on the summit during the Saxon period. There are records from 1243 that show that a timber church, dedicated to St Michael, was present on the summit of the Tor. It is also known that this church was eventually destroyed during an earthquake in 1275. The year 1323 saw a sandstone church (also dedicated to St Michael) built on the Tor, and this church survived until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. During this turbulent period Richard Whiting (the last Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey) was apparently hung, drawn and quartered on the Tor, along with two other monks. Today, only the three-story roofless tower of the sandstone church remains standing on the exposed summit of the Tor.

Aside from the known history, the Tor is also associated with a number of legends.

Some suggest that the Tor is the mythical “Isle of Avalon” from Arthurian legend. A fire in 1184 at the nearby Glastonbury Abbey is said to have led to the discovery of the coffins of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, which were conveniently labeled: "Here lies buried the famous King Arthur in the Isle of Avalon". As the Tor resides on the Somerset levels flood plain, it is possible that the Tor may have once been surrounded by water, making it an isle. The winter storms of 2013-2014 did see extensive flooding in the Somerset levels and show their susceptibility to changes in water levels.

It has also been claimed that the Tor may to this day be the resting place of the holy grail, which was brought to Glastonbury by Jesus' uncle (Joseph of Arimathea) after Jesus' crucifixion. Some stories even suggest that Jesus himself may have visited the local area!

The Tor itself is not unique in being surrounded by legend; Glastonbury Abbey is the centre of a number of tales and the iron rich waters of the nearby Chalice Well are purported to have healing properties. If you want to try the water for yourself there is a fast flowing outflow from the well on Wellhouse lane (near the foot path leading to the Tor). To me, the water tasted rather foul!

Whilst the legends associated with the Tor are unlikely to be true, it is easy to see why the Tor captures people's imagination, given its prominence in the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels.