Since Medieval times, the abbey has held legendary status as the earliest Christian foundation in Britain linked to Joseph of Arimathea and it is also heraled as the burial place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Thirty eight Abbots have served at Glastonbury, but nary a Chandler.

The first Abbot of record in 601 was Worgret Lademund Bregoret. The last of record in 1525, was Richard Whyting, who was unfortunately Abbot when Henry VIII became King and changed all Catholic churches to the Church of England. Father Whyting was outspoken in disagreement with KIng Henry VIII and thus was hanged, drawn and quartered in 1539 as a traitor.

This replica gives us an grasp of it size, huge!

This was a fasinating place to visit. The Abbey has been restored and maintained as it was 800 years ago.

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The great church was 220 feet (67 m) in length and 45 feet (14 m) wide. The choir was 155 feet (47 m) long and the transept was 160 feet (49 m) long. St Joseph's chapel was 110 feet (34 m) long and 24 feet (7.3 m) wide.

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Dissolution of the Monasteries

At the start of the "Dissolution of the Monasteries  in 1536, there were over 850 monasteries, nunneries and friaries in England. By 1541, there were none. More than 15,000 monks and nuns had been dispersed and the buildings had been seized by the Crown to be sold off or leased to new lay occupants. Glastonbury Abbey was reviewed as having significant amounts of silver and gold as well as its attached lands. In September 1539, the abbey was visited by  Richard Laytoy, and Richard Pollard who arrived there without warning on the orders of Thomas Cromwell.  The abbey was stripped of its valuables. Abbot Richard Whyting, who had been a signatory to the Act of Supremacy  that made Henry VIII the head of the church, resisted and was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on 15 November 1539.

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Our tour guide was a great story teller, that with the abundance of the location, his demeanor and dress emersed you at Glastonbury five hundred years earlier.

The Monk!

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Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provides fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury.

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Louanne admiring the beautiful yellow roses. Doesn't she have the cutest bonnett!

Connie Chandler giving us an idea of the size of this cornor column

Nancy said whoa, I need a little time out. She is a great model.

Wea re touring the Kitchen as it existed then, and as your mind wanders look at the size of these ovens or spits whatever the correct term might be.The Abbot's Kitchen is described as "one of the best preserved medieval kitchens in Europe". The 14th century octagonal building is supported by curved buttresses on each side leading up to a cornice with grotesque gargoyles. Inside are four large arched fireplaces with smoke outlets above them, with another outlet in the centre of the pyramidal roof

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When I mentioned size realize that Norman Chandler is about 6' 2" and he is looking up.

Of all of our group photos this is my favorite and you'll likely see it repeated again. Just humor me and pretend you didn't notice.

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We visited Cheddar after Glastonbury, but I failed to take any interesting photos. I disappointed myself as Cheddar was a lovely city built in the mouth of a large canyon, very picturesque. It being a Sunday and the Cheese shops were crowded, as the streets were too. Of course we bought the Real Cheddar to carry home and I can report that it exceeded our expectations.

Come on Willie sing us another verse, and we’ll move on down the road to Oxford.

Norm & Dottie