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Glastonbury
Maker of Myths

Frances Howard-Gordon

This book is currently out of print, to be re-published in 2008

Glastonbury, the ancient Isle of Avalon, is known throughout the world as a holy shrine, an ancient sanctuary, a sacred centre overflowing with history, myths and legends.

Within its landscape are hidden tales of ancient fertility rituals and a neolithic spiral maze...
- the cauldron of inspiration, the Holy Grail and the elixir of life;
- a faery castle, a magic mountain and lights in the hills;
- King Arthur, the Round Table of the Zodiac and the story of creation;
- the oldest church in Britain, the coming of the saints, and the chalice of the Last Supper;
- secret passages, running water and inexplicable shafts of light;
- a megalithic moon observatory, lines on the landscape and a sacred egg-stone.

For the visitor, the armchair traveller, or the reader who simply wonders what continues to attract so many thousands to this ancient sacred place, this guidebook will provide an interesting introduction.

Since its publication in 1982, Glastonbury: Maker of Myths has sold over 50,000 copies. Now substantially revised and updated, this new edition also looks at Glastonbury today, its ever-changing population, its pilgrims, problems and plans for the future.

The legends of Glastonbury are closely interwoven with its landscape, monuments and natural features. They come to life in their natural setting, whose subtle beauties are illustrated in this helpful companionable guide to Glastonbury's shrines and secret places. – John Michell

FRANCES HOWARD-GORDON has lived in Glastonbury for over 20 years, after leaving London where she worked as a film director for BBC-TV and as a freelance journalist. She owns and runs Gothic Image bookshop, publishing and tours with her partner Jamie George. 

Contents

INTRODUCTION
Map
THE TOR
Prehistory, Celts and Druids, Arthurian associations, Archaeological chronology, Tunnels and waterways
CHALICE HILL
Prehistory and Celtic associations, Medieval, Christian and Arthurian associations
WEARYALL HILL
Prehistory, Celts and Druids, Arthurian associations, Christian associations
BRIDE'S MOUND
THE LAKE VILLAGES
Christian and Arthurian associations, Peat Moors Visitors' Centre,
THE ABBEY
Prehistory, Christian associations and history, Arthurian associations
THE ABBEY BARN
THE SEVEN SACRED ISLANDS
CHALICE WELL
Prehistory, Celts and Druids, Arthurian associations, Archaeological chronology and Christian associations
THE WHITE SPRING
GOG AND MAGOG
Prehistory, History
THE GLASTONBURY ZODIAC
Associations with the Zodiac, The Signs in the landscape
THE GEORGE & PILGRIMS HOTEL
THE TRIBUNAL
THE CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST
SAINT BENEDICT'S CHURCH
SAINT MARY'S CHURCH
The cult of Mary
THE ALMSHOUSES
ANCIENT FESTIVALS
GLASTONBURY CULTURE
History, The present
GLASTONBURY TOWN
History, The present
DIARY OF EVENTS OPENING TIMES
BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

GLASTONBURY: Maker of Myths

INTRODUCTION

This guide to Glastonbury is for those who want a simple, brief outline of what makes this small country town so special. It is also intended as a companion to walks around the hills and ancient buildings so that the myths and legends, history, beliefs and personal experiences associated with each particular site can be consulted along the way.

However, because Glastonbury is not necessarily what it seems and there are many layers and all kinds of mysteries and meanings here, I would encourage you to look and see with an open mind and experience this place for yourself. What you read in the following pages is merely a taste, a very brief and undetailed study to help you on your way. There are three books which I seriously recommend for more profound insights on Glastonbury. These are New Light on the Ancient Mystery of Glastonbury by John Michell, Glastonbury Abbey: The Holy House at the Head of the Moors Adventurous by James Carley, and The Avalonians by Patrick Benham.

Glastonbury is overflowing with fantastic tales of magic, mystery and imagination, quite apart from its rich and colourful history. Indeed, Glastonbury has something to suit every taste. There are ancient fertility rituals and a neolithic spiral maze; the Cauldron of Inspiration, the Holy Grail and the elixir of Life; a faery castle, a magic mountain and lights in the hills; King Arthur, the Round Table of the Zodiac, and the story of Creation; the oldest church in Britain, the coming of the Saints, and the Chalice of the Last Supper; secret passages, running water and inexplicable shafts of light; a megalithic moon observatory, lines on the landscape, and a sacred egg-stone.

Even though at first sight the myths and legends look like a jumble of fairy-tales, sagas, poems, inscriptions, belief validations and social morality, they turn out to have a common thread, a pattern which stays essentially the same. In the process of being passed on from person to person and from place to place, a myth is transformed, appears to be completely different, and yet retains the same structural principles. For example, the Cauldron of Cerridwen, the inspirational Muse of the Romantic poets, the Quest for the Holy Grail, and the Cup of the Last Supper – all these are transformations of each other, written at different times by different people, with a different narrative each time, and different symbols. Yet they are all preoccupied with the same theme. They are all speculations on the insoluble problems of the human condition, and they are all asking the same question: What is the meaning of Life? To whom serveth the Grail?

The Glastonbury Zodiac and the Twelve Labours of Hercules; Goddess worship and the initiation ceremonies of the Druids; the geomancy of Glastonbury Abbey and the accumulation of magnetic energy – all these myths and rituals are striving for the same thing: order out of chaos and unity out of contradiction.

At the end of the day it appears myths are what make up the genuine process of history. Myths are the backbone of a culture, for are not the reflections on such matters as life and death ultimately more important than chronicles of personalities and events which make up our history books? And do not these myths, these experiments in ideas, actually influence society and cause events to occur? But this leads us to the great paradox. Are people themselves the creators, or are we merely caught up in a never-ending historical process of mythmaking, carriers of a culture passed on to us through the centuries?

In Glastonbury myths are being transformed and re-made all the time. Ancient customs and cults are re-discovered and revived here, threads are followed, webs are woven, boundaries of consciousness are pushed. Glastonbury is a natural sanctuary where the earth spirit is teacher. It comes alive in the weird and wonderful landscape, in the peculiar shades of light, in the changing seasons, in the air we breathe.

The spiritual power of Glastonbury changes lives. But one core theme has emerged, in my experience, as a constant. When people come to live in Glastonbury, their intent is to live out the spiritual values of caring, sharing and living lightly on the land. Not everyone succeeds, for humility is required. But there is a community here, small but solid, whose participants include young and old, who continue to practise the values of goodwill and unconditional love.

Try a sample chapter from this book: Glastonbury Tor