The weather, particularly in the south of England made plans change from day to day. Some places I couldn't get to because of the flooding. From Bath I took a day trip to Glastonbury. Glastonbury is a small town in Sommerset on the river Avalon. It has a population of around eight and a half thousand people. Glastonbury is known for its yearly Festival of Contemporary and Performing Arts which has attracted crowds of 175,000 people some times. It is also known as a spiritual sanctuary of England. Some in Australia would say its a little like Nimbin.
The most prominent feature in Glastonbury is the Tor. This is a huge hill with a tower on top. Archaeological evidence shows there have been two church of St Michael here, the only remains visible now is the 15th century tower. Abbot Richard Whiting was also executed on the Tor by order of Thomas Cromwell, the first Earl of Essex.
It is a steep climb to the top of the Tor but the views are worth it. To some the Tor possesses magic. While up here I heard one man, with divining rods, explaining how a visit to the Tor each morning and night had cured him of his inoperable brain tumour. It also has links with the legend of King Arthur and may have even been the site of the fabled Camelot. Nearby is Chalice Wells. This is purported to be the resting place of the Holy Grail, supposedly brought here by Joseph of Arimathea.
To many the Tor is believed to be the home of Gwyn ap Nudd, King of the Fairies. This is mirrored throughout the town. Many shops sell fairies and gnomes and there are shops decorated to promote this feeling. I also spoke with one man who told me he was a Druid. He told me about the nearby bogs and how they were being reclaimed as bird habitat now peat was no longer a valuable fuel source.
After Glastonbury I travelled to Stonehenge. However flooding in the area made it impossible to get to the sight and I had to be content taking photographs across a paddock and from a rain affected dirt road.
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| A local Druid |
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| Glastonbury Tor |
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| View inside the tower |
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| View from the top |
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| View of the town |
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| The Chalice Well |
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| A shop in Glastonbury |
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| Stonehenge |
