monastery somerset england ruins grade listed building scheduled ancient monument open visitor attraction abbey founded 7th century enlarged 10th destroyed major fire subsequently rebuilt 14th century richest powerful monasteries england abbey controlled large tracts surrounding land instrumental major drainage projects abbey suppressed england abbot hanged drawn traitor 12th century area associated legend king arthur connection promoted medieval monks asserted christian legends claimed abbey founded joseph 1st century history suggestions site religious importance celtic pre celtic times considered dubious historian archaeological investigations demonstrated roman saxon occupation site excavations uncovered british pottery west end abbey founded dates century dark age occupation site evidenced pieces wine imported mediterranean medieval christian legend claimed abbey founded joseph 1st century legend tied version holy story connection king arthur century fell saxon hands conquered somerset far west intention gaining control abbey allowed british abbot remain power intended good faith defeated death replaced anglo saxon british monks remained years saxon era king enriched community monks established reputed directed stone church built foundations form west end nave established site 7th century ravaged 9th century contemporary reformed soldier founded establishment somerset abbey church enlarged 10th century abbot central figure 10th century revival english monastic life instituted rule built archbishop_of_canterbury king interred lost england held title buried charter written wooden church kings presence medieval built middle 10th century link abbey distance kilometres purpose believed transport stone build abbey later transport produce including grain wine fish abbey outlying properties building stone came abbey accessed way 11th century abbey centre large water borne transport network new channels including diversion access estate easier route 13th century abbey head transported abbot boat visits abbey nearby medieval era norman conquest wealth prime prize new norman abbot added church unusually building east older saxon church away ancient cemetery shifting site later changed abbot built larger church new suitable heads religious communities dismissed armed killed monks book commissioned richest monastery country abbot commissioned history historian william guest monks work antiquity church compiled campaign establish abbey westminster source knowledge abbey early history far william generally excellent standards acceptance monks forged charters early legends apparent list community reconciled 10th century originals subsequently discovered problems antiquity later histories led scholars assume william original text careful accounts passages arthur later additions meant bolster monks case early drainage work carried later years 12th century responsibility maintaining sea placed named individuals abbot recorded enclosed land efforts control flooding recorded date acres km2 reclaimed near accounts abbey rent books increased acres 14th century built chief fisherman abbot preparing fish surviving monastic fishery building england time dissolution pool said contain great abundance pike owned described fish pool importance industry illustrated series disputes dean chapter abbey required fish fast days lent landed typical year king arthur tomb great fire destroyed monastic buildings reconstruction began immediately lady chapel includes consecrated evidence 12th century ruined nave renovated services great new church constructed parts walls aisle crossing having completed progress continued slowly visits fallen alleged discovery king arthur tomb cemetery provided fresh impetus visiting contemporaneous eyewitness account given instruction prince according abbot commissioned search discovering depth feet massive oak trunk containing skeletons covering stone according cross specific inscription lies interred famous king arthur according digging tomb prompted intelligence obtained henry_ii aged british welsh latin hand writing somewhat later states came older tomb chance removing earth bury certain monk expressed strong desire buried spot lay abbey william refer arthur tomb varying height statues inscriptions etc historians today generally dismiss authenticity find publicity stunt performed raise funds repair abbey burned william history english kings stated arthur grave seen antiquity claims return work antiquity church known suspected pious mentions connection abbey arthur grave fact search arthur body connected henry_ii edward kings fought major welsh wars scholars suggest propaganda played constant supporter royal authority account discovery clearly aims destroy idea possibility king arthur return tales told legends invented king arthur mysterious ending british welsh people maintain alive truth known taken trouble add details present chapter fairy tales true facts known happened crystal clear separated myths accumulated subject annexation bath wells wells traded city bath king return monastery secured support pope takeover abbey seat replacing bath plan bishop bath abbot support obtained letters including archbishop_of_canterbury claimed arrangement settle longstanding disputes abbey bishops monks objected plan sent appeal rome dismissed king richard longer imprisoned germany sided monks allowed elect abbot place responded new abbot succession john king place brother richard managed force way monastery set episcopal abbey monks appealed new pope innocent took monks lifted newest appeal taking place number supporters travelled rome appeal person died rome monks alleged poison administered orders innocent changed mind abbot ordering english clergy judge case revenues abbey monks attempted secure control monasteries diocese died set plans motion bishops continued use title finally claim services begun christmas day likely entirely completed king edward queen eleanor attended magnificent service king arthur remains foot 14th 15th centuries 14th century richly endowed appointed abbot kept great state attested simply ruins abbot kitchen huge corners kitchen magnificent abbot house begun best preserved medieval europe substantial monastic building surviving archaeological excavations revealed special apartment erected south end abbot house visit visited abbot royal progress visited great territorial magnate conditions life england wars roses unsettled wall built abbey built late 15th century accommodate visitors abbey designated grade listed building abbey held lands outside town serving large parts somerset including parts neighbouring counties built hold crops abbey including start dissolution monasteries monasteries england monks dispersed buildings seized crown sold leased new lay reviewed having significant amounts silver gold attached lands september abbey visited arrived warning orders abbey stripped act supremacy henry_viii head church resisted hanged drawn traitor november decline dissolution abbey wiltshire sold crown descended family later bath preserved abbey wiltshire records present day ruins abbey stripped lead dressed stones hauled away buildings site granted 1st duke somerset established colony protestant dutch site abbey site reverted crown remained removed reign elizabeth england granted site remained private ownership beginning 20th century stones removed 17th century beginning 18th century abbey described ruin building survive intact abbot kitchen served meeting house early 19th century gunpowder stones site quarry act stopped damage site led historical archaeological surveys modern history ruins purchased bath ruins property managed trust acquiring site trust appointed direct archaeological investigation bond discovered chapel chapel relations employers turned sour revealed book gates remembrance interpretations collaboration psychic medium dismissed use psychic remembered man cultural understanding pilgrimage ruins held local churches continue today held second half june early july catholics attract visitors western_europe services celebrated anglican roman catholic eastern orthodox traditions abbey site visited year architecture ruins great church lady chapel grade listed buildings scheduled ancient monument set acres open public approached abbey gatehouse built mid 14th century completely restored 14th century abbey barn open public outside walls great church feet length feet wide choir feet long feet long chapel feet long feet wide remaining portions arcades supports central square tower fragments structures remain include portions outer walls chancel 14th century surviving stonework south nave aisle wall west linked chapel lady chapel walls survive described yards length yards wide abbot kitchen described best preserved medieval europe 14th century octagonal building supported curved buttresses leading inside large arched smoke outlets outlet centre roof kitchen attached feet high abbot hall small section wall remains work underway results excavations 20th century new survey help specify exactly size different buildings situated early work identified saxon enclosure ditch potentially earliest britain library abbey library described king henry viii visited containing unique copies ancient histories england unique early christian documents affected fire housed remarkable collection dispersed manuscripts known survived dissolution abbey retreat house abbey wall closed public abbey retreat house diocese bath wells house built stones abbey ruins altered extended alterations specimen found mentioned early sixteenth century anonymous joseph unusual twice year normal old wood spring new wood current season matured new growth winter tree widely propagated custom sending branch queen christmas initiated bishop bath wells james reign sent branch king james consort trees survive earlier legend holy grounds sent queen comes
Glastonbury Abbey