View source for Unsolved:Glastonbury

{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|static_image_name=glastonbury (part of) from the tor arp.jpg
|static_image_alt=Red roofs of multiple houses, with some larger white roofs at the far side. Surrounded by trees and green fields on all sides. Hills on the horizon.
|static_image_caption=A view of Glastonbury from the Tor
|coordinates = {{coord|51.1485|-2.7140|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Glastonbury
| population = 8,932
| population_ref =<ref name="popn"/>
|civil_parish = Glastonbury <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://glastonbury.gov.uk/ |title=Glastonbury Town Council – The Official Glastonbury Town Council Website<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=24 November 2020 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202205948/https://glastonbury.gov.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| unitary_england = Somerset Council
| lieutenancy_england = Somerset
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= Wells
|post_town= Glastonbury
|postcode_district= BA6
|postcode_area=BA
|dial_code= 01458
|os_grid_reference= ST501390
}}
'''Glastonbury''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|l|æ|s|t|ən|b|ər|i}} {{respell|GLAST|ən|bər|ee}}, {{IPAc-en|UKalso|ˈ|ɡ|l|ɑː|s|-}} {{respell|GLAHST|-}})<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Glastonbury |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801050509/https://www.lexico.com/definition/glastonbury |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-08-01 |title=Glastonbury |dictionary=Lexico UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite EPD|18|Glastonbury|p=209}}</ref> is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at a [[Earth:Dry point|dry point]] on the low-lying Somerset Levels, {{convert|23|mi|km|0}} south of Bristol. The town had a population of 8,932 in the 2011 census.<ref name="popn">{{NOMIS2011|id=1170218013|title=Glastonbury Parish|access-date=11 March 2018}}</ref> Glastonbury is less than {{convert|1|mi|km|0}} across the River Brue from Street, which is now larger than Glastonbury.

Evidence from timber trackways such as the [[Engineering:Sweet Track|Sweet Track]] show that the town has been inhabited since [[History:Neolithic|Neolithic]] times. Glastonbury Lake Village was an [[History:Iron Age|Iron Age]] village, close to the old course of the River Brue and Sharpham Park approximately {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} west of Glastonbury, that dates back to the [[History:Bronze Age|Bronze Age]]. Centwine was the first Saxon patron of Glastonbury Abbey, which dominated the town for the next 700 years. One of the most important [[Religion:Abbey|abbey]]s in England, it was the site of Edmund Ironside's coronation as King of England in 1016. Many of the oldest surviving buildings in the town, including the Tribunal, George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn and the Somerset Rural Life Museum, which is based at the site of a 14th-century abbey manor barn,<ref>The Abbey Barn at Abbey Farm, Glastonbury - 1019389 | Historic England</ref> often referred to as a tithe barn, are associated with the abbey. The Church of St John the Baptist dates from the 15th century.

The town became a centre for commerce, which led to the construction of the market cross, Glastonbury Canal and the Glastonbury and Street railway station, the largest station on the original Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The Brue Valley Living Landscape is a [[Biology:Conservation biology|conservation]] project managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust and nearby is the Ham Wall National Nature Reserve.

Glastonbury has been described as having a [[Unsolved:New Age communities|New Age community]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Prince|first1=Ruth|last2=Riches|first2=David|title=The New Age in Glastonbury: The Construction of Religious Movements|date=2000|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=9781571817921}}</ref> and possibly being where New Age beliefs originated at the turn of the twentieth century.<ref>Patrick Benham, ''The Avalonians'', (Glastonbury: Gothic Image Publications, 1993), p 50.</ref> It is notable for myths and legends often related to Glastonbury Tor, concerning Joseph of Arimathea, the [[Religion:Holy Grail|Holy Grail]] and King Arthur. Joseph is said to have arrived in Glastonbury and stuck his staff into the ground, when it flowered miraculously into the [[Biology:Glastonbury Thorn|Glastonbury Thorn]]. The presence of a [[Unsolved:Landscape zodiac|landscape zodiac]] around the town has been suggested but no evidence has been discovered. The Glastonbury Festival, held in the nearby village of Pilton, takes its name from the town.

==History==
===Prehistory===
During the 7th millennium BC the sea level rose and flooded the valleys and low-lying ground surrounding Glastonbury so the Mesolithic people occupied seasonal camps on the higher ground, indicated by scatters of flints.<ref name="somhist">{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/pdfs/esaspdfs/stage1/SOMHIST.pdf |title=Historical Monitoring in the Somerset Levels and Moors ESA 1987–1994 |access-date=10 June 2007 |work=DEFRA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926223213/http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/pdfs/esaspdfs/stage1/SOMHIST.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}</ref> The [[History:Neolithic|Neolithic]] people continued to exploit the reedswamps for their natural resources and started to construct wooden trackways. These included the [[Engineering:Sweet Track|Sweet Track]], west of Glastonbury, which is one of the oldest engineered roads known and was the oldest timber trackway discovered in Northern Europe, until the 2009 discovery of a 6,000-year-old trackway in Belmarsh Prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.physorg.com/news169297178.html|title=London's earliest timber structure found during Belmarsh prison dig|last=Anon|date=12 August 2009|work=physorg.com News|publisher=PhysOrg.com|access-date=10 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715214221/http://www.physorg.com/news169297178.html|archive-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> Tree-ring dating ([[Physics:Dendrochronology|dendrochronology]]) of the timbers has enabled very precise dating of the track, showing it was built in 3807 or 3806&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{cite web | title = The day the Sweet Track was built | work = New Scientist, 16 June 1990 | url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12617212.800.html | access-date = 26 October 2007 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080709025123/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12617212.800.html | archive-date = 9 July 2008}}</ref> It has been claimed to be the oldest road in the world.<ref name="Current_Archaeology_172">{{cite web | title = Special issue on Wetlands / The Somerset Levels | work=Current Archaeology 172 | publisher=Current Archaeology|date=5 April 2007 | url = http://www.archaeology.co.uk/ca/issues/ca172/ca172.htm | access-date =26 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070405210503/http://archaeology.co.uk/ca/issues/ca172/ca172.htm |archive-date = 5 April 2007}}</ref> The track was discovered in the course of peat digging in 1970, and is named after its discoverer, Ray Sweet.<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Robin |author2=Williams, Romey |title=The Somerset Levels |year=1992|pages=35–36 |publisher=Ex Libris Press |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=0-948578-38-6 }}</ref> It extended across the [[Earth:Marsh|marsh]] between what was then an island at Westhay, and a ridge of high ground at Shapwick, a distance close to {{convert|2000|m|mi}}. The track is one of a network of tracks that once crossed the Somerset Levels. Built in the 39th century BC,<ref name="Current_Archaeology_172"/> during the Neolithic period, the track consisted of crossed poles of ash, [[Biology:Oak|oak]] and lime (''[[Biology:Tilia|Tilia]]'') which were driven into the waterlogged soil to support a walkway that mainly consisted of oak planks laid end-to-end. Since the discovery of the Sweet Track, it has been determined that it was built along the route of an even earlier track, the Post Track, dating from 3838 BC, and so 30&nbsp;years older.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hill-Cottingham |first1=Pat |last2=Briggs|first2= D.|last3= Brunning|first3= R.|last4= King |first4=A.|last5= Rix|first5= G |title=The Somerset Wetlands |year=2006 |publisher=Somerset Books |isbn=0-86183-432-1 }}</ref>

Glastonbury Lake Village was an [[History:Iron Age|Iron Age]] village, close to the old course of the River Brue, on the Somerset Levels near Godney, some {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} north west of Glastonbury. It covers an area of {{convert|400|ft|m|sigfig=2}} north to south by {{convert|300|ft|m|sigfig=1}} east to west,<ref name="HER">{{cite web |url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/23637 |title=Glastonbury Lake Village |access-date=18 November 2007 |work=Somerset Historic Environment Record |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003094559/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/23637 |archive-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> and housed around 100 people in five to seven groups of houses, each for an extended family, with sheds and barns, made of [[Biology:Hazel|hazel]] and [[Biology:Willow|willow]] covered with reeds, and surrounded either permanently or at certain times by a wooden [[Engineering:Palisade|palisade]]. The village was built in about 300&nbsp;BC and occupied into the early Roman period (around AD&nbsp;100) when it was abandoned, possibly due to a rise in the water level.<ref>{{cite book |last=Adkins |first=Lesley |author2=Roy Adkins |title=A field guide to Somerset archeology |year=1992 |publisher=Dovecote Press |location=Wimborne |isbn=0-946159-94-7 |pages=69–70 }}</ref> It was built on a morass on an artificial foundation of timber filled with brushwood, bracken, rubble and clay.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cunliffe |first=Barry |title=Iron Age Communities in Britain (4th Ed) | page=266 |year=2005 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-34779-3 }}</ref>

Sharpham Park is a {{convert|300|acre|ha|adj=on|abbr=off}} historic park, {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} west of Glastonbury, which dates back to the [[History:Bronze Age|Bronze Age]].

===Middle Ages===
The name Glastonbury is derived from {{lang-ang|Glæstyngabyrig}}.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Glastonbury |volume=12 |page=113}}</ref> When the settlement is first recorded in the 7th and the early 8th century, it was called ''Glestingaburg''.<ref name="gray">{{cite journal|doi=10.2307/2848235|last=Gray|first=Louis H.|title=The origin of the name of Glastonbury |journal=Speculum |date=January 1935 |volume=10|issue=1|pages=46–53 |jstor=2848235|s2cid=163603868}}</ref> The ''burg'' element is [[Social:Old English|Old English]] and could refer either to a fortified place such as a burh or, more likely, a monastic enclosure; however the ''Glestinga'' element is obscure, and may derive from a Celtic personal name or from Old English (either from a name or otherwise).<ref name="gathercole">{{cite web|url=http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/Somerset_EUS_Glastonbury.pdf |title=Glastonbury |last=Gathercole |first=Clare |work=Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey |publisher=Somerset County Council |access-date=14 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202307/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/Somerset_EUS_Glastonbury.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name=LHG>{{cite book |last=Gray |first=Louis H. |title=Speculum, Vol. 10, No. 1: The Origin of the Name of Glastonbury |pages=46–53 |year=1935 |publisher=Medieval Academy of America }}</ref> It may derive from a person or [[Social:Kinship|kindred]] group named Glast.<ref name=LHG/>
The name however is likely related to an Irish individual named Glas mac Caise 'Glas son of Cas'. Glas is an ancient Irish personal name meaning 'green, grey/green'. It is stated in the Life of St Patrick that he resurrected a swineherder by that name and he went to Glastonbury, to an area of the village known as 'Glastonbury of the Irish' and this could well be referring to the area of Beckery (Little Ireland) where it is believed an Irish Colony established itself in the 10th century and was thus nicknamed 'Little Ireland'. This area was known to the Irish as Glastimbir na n-Gaoidhil 'Glastonbury of the Gaels'. (The Archaeology and History of Glastonbury Abbey - Courteney Arthur Ralegh Radford). This is the earliest source for the name Glastonbury. The modern Irish form for Glastonbury is Glaistimbir.

[[File:Summit of glastonbury tor.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Remains of St Michael's Church at the summit of Glastonbury Tor]]Hugh Ross Williamson cites a tale about St. Collen, one of the earliest hermits to inhabit the Tor before the Abbey was built by St. Patrick, which has the Saint summoned by the King of the Fairies, Gwyn, to the summit of the Tor. Upon arrival there he beholds a hovering mansion inhabited by handsomely dressed courtiers and King Gwyn on a throne of gold; holy water disperses the apparition. This is from Druid mythology, in which the mansion is ''made of glass'' so as to receive the spirits of the dead, which were supposed to depart from the summit of the Tor. This was the chief reason why the chapel, and later the church, of St. Michael were built on the high hill; [[Religion:Michael (archangel)|St. Michael]] being the chief patron against diabolic attacks which the monks believed the Fairy King to be numbered among. Accordingly, Williamson posits that the Tor was named after the glassy mansion of the dead.<ref>Hugh Ross Williamson ''The Flowering Hawthorn'', Neumann Press 1962</ref>

William of Malmesbury in his ''De Antiquitate Glastonie Ecclesie'' gives the Old Celtic ''Ineswitrin'' (or ''Ynys Witrin'') as its earliest name,<ref name="LHG" /> and asserts that the founder of the town was the eponymous Glast, a descendant of Cunedda.<ref name="gray" />

Centwine (676–685) was the first Saxon patron of Glastonbury Abbey.<ref>{{cite book|last=Godden|first=Malcolm|title=Anglo-Saxon England|year=2008|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-88343-6|page=51|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i3s1Q4XXIF8C&q=Centwine%20Glastonbury&pg=PA51|author2=Simon Keynes|access-date=22 August 2010|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126035741/https://books.google.com/books?id=i3s1Q4XXIF8C&q=Centwine%20Glastonbury&pg=PA51|url-status=live}}</ref> King Edmund Ironside was buried at the abbey.<ref>{{cite web|title=Edmund II Ironside|url=http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_15.htm|publisher=English Monarchs|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922165148/http://englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_15.htm|archive-date=22 September 2010}}</ref> The Domesday Book indicates that in the [[History:Hundred (county division)|hundred]] of ''Glastingberiensis'', the Abbey was the Lord in 1066 prior to the arrival of William the Conqueror then tenant-in chief with Godwin as Lord of ''Glastingberi'' in 1086.<ref>[http://opendomesday.org/place/ST5038/glastonbury/ Open Domesday online: Glastonbury] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617022727/http://opendomesday.org/place/ST5038/glastonbury/ |date=17 June 2016 }}</ref>

To the southwest of the town centre is Beckery, which was once a village in its own right but is now part of the suburbs. Around the 7th and 8th centuries it was occupied by a small monastic community associated with a cemetery.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Water and wetlands in medieval estate management: Glastonbury Abbey, Meare and the Somerset Levels in South West England |first=Stephen |last=Rippon |year=2005 |title=Ruralia V: proceedings of an international conference, 26 September to 3 October 2003 |editor-first=J. |editor-last=Klapst |publisher=Památky archeologickeq |chapter-url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10036/23912/water%20and%20wetlands.PDF |pages=95–112 |access-date=10 October 2019 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801023723/https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10036/23912/water%20and%20wetlands.PDF |url-status=live }} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Anglo-Saxon Glastonbury: Church and Endowment |last=Abrams |first=Lesley |year=1996 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-0-85115-369-8 |page=56 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbuMaZ3JRPwC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228163400/https://books.google.com/books?id=dbuMaZ3JRPwC |archive-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> Archaeological excavations in 2016 uncovered 50 to 60 skeletons thought to be those of monks from Beckery Chapel during the 5th or early 6th century.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beckery Chapel near Glastonbury 'earliest known UK monastic life'|work=BBC News|date=5 December 2016|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-38187299|access-date=5 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205012237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-38187299|archive-date=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Beckery Chapel, Glastonbury|url=http://www.swheritage.org.uk/beckery-chapel|publisher=South West Heritage Trust|access-date=5 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224100943/http://www.swheritage.org.uk/beckery-chapel|archive-date=24 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Beckery Monastery and Chapel|date=26 May 2016|url=https://avalon-archaeology.com/about/archaeology-projects/beckery-monastery-and-chapel/|publisher=Avalon Marshes Hands on Heritage|access-date=5 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228163400/https://avalon-archaeology.com/about/archaeology-projects/beckery-monastery-and-chapel/|archive-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Glastonbury_Magdalene_Chapel.jpg|left|thumb|269x269px|Magdalene Chapel]]
Sharpham Park was granted by King Eadwig to the then abbot Æthelwold in 957. In 1191 Sharpham Park was gifted by the soon-to-be King John I to the Abbots of Glastonbury, who remained in possession of the park and house until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539. From 1539 to 1707 the park was owned by the Duke of Somerset, Sir Edward Seymour, brother of Queen Jane; the Thynne family of Longleat, and the family of Sir Henry Gould. Edward Dyer was born here in 1543. The house is now a private residence and Grade II* listed building.<ref>{{NHLE | desc=Abbots Sharpham and Sharpham Park Farmhouse | num=1345069 | access-date=25 November 2006 }}</ref> It was the birthplace of Sir Edward Dyer (died 1607) an [[History:Elizabethan era|Elizabethan]] poet and courtier, the writer Henry Fielding (1707–54), and the cleric William Gould.[[File:St Mary Magdalenes Almshouses (geograph 3257133).jpg|thumb|Hospital of St Mary Magdalene]]In the 1070s St Margaret's Chapel was built on Magdelene Street, originally as a hospital and later as almshouses for the poor. The building dates from 1444.<ref>{{cite web|title=St Margaret's Chapel|url=http://www.stmargaretschapel.org/home.html|publisher=St Margaret's Chapel|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619012648/http://www.stmargaretschapel.org/home.html|archive-date=19 June 2010}}</ref> The roof of the hall is thought to have been removed after the Dissolution, and some of the building was demolished in the 1960s. It is Grade II* listed,<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Almshouses and Chapel of St Mary Magdalene's Hospital|num=1057909|access-date=5 July 2010 }}</ref> and a scheduled monument.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hospital of St Mary, Chapel and Men's Almshouses, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/23575|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003092817/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/23575|archive-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> Hospital of St Mary Magdalene, Glastonbury in 2010 plans were announced to restore the building.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Adler|first=Mark|title=Icon John and the refuge from "The madding World".|journal=Mendip Times|date=October 2010|volume=6|issue=5|pages=65}}</ref>

During the Middle Ages the town largely depended on the abbey but was also a centre for the wool trade until the 18th century. A Saxon-era canal connected the abbey to the River Brue.<ref name="gathercole" /> Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, was executed with two of his monks on 15 November 1539 during the dissolution of the monasteries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/ophiuchvs2000/RememberRichardWhiting.pdf|title=Remember Richard Whiting|last=Cousins|first=J.F.|year=2007|access-date=18 August 2009|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/ophiuchvs2000/RememberRichardWhiting.pdf&date=2009-10-26+00:02:21|archive-date=26 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the Second Cornish Uprising of 1497 Perkin Warbeck surrendered when he heard that Giles, Lord Daubeney's troops, loyal to Henry VII, were camped at Glastonbury.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Warbeck, Perkin|volume=59}}</ref>

===Early modern===
[[File:Wenceslas Hollar - Glastonbury (State 1).jpg|thumb|17th-century engraving of Glastonbury by Wenceslaus Hollar]]In 1693 Glastenbury, Connecticut was founded and named after the English town from which some of the settlers had emigrated. It is rumored to have originally been called "Glistening Town" until the mid-19th century, when the name was changed to match the spelling of Glastonbury, England, but in fact, residents of the Connecticut town believe this to be a myth, based on the Glastonbury Historical Society's records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsgct.org/Glastonbury_timeline.pdf|title=Glastonbury Timeline|publisher=The Historical Society of Glastonbury|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823120940/http://www.hsgct.org/Glastonbury_timeline.pdf|archive-date=23 August 2016}}</ref> A representation of the Glastonbury thorn is incorporated onto the town seal.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Town|url=http://town.glasct.org/hissoc/Glastonbury/town.html|publisher=The Historical Society of Glastonbury|access-date=6 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726105919/http://town.glasct.org/hissoc/Glastonbury/town.html|archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

The Somerset town's charter of incorporation was received in 1705.<ref name="gathercole" /> Growth in the trade and economy largely depended on the drainage of the surrounding moors. The opening of the Glastonbury Canal produced an upturn in trade, and encouraged local building.<ref name="gathercole" /> The parish was part of the hundred of Glaston Twelve Hides,<ref>{{cite web|title=Somerset Hundreds|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|publisher=GENUKI|access-date=12 September 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119134349/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Miscellaneous/|archive-date=19 January 2012}}</ref> until the 1730s when it became a borough in its own right.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dunning|first1=Robert|title=Glastonbury: History and Guide|date=1994|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn=978-0750904216|page=63}}</ref>

===Modern history===

By the middle of the 19th century the Glastonbury Canal drainage problems and competition from the new railways caused a decline in trade, and the town's economy became depressed.<ref name="gathercole" /> The canal was closed on 1 July 1854, and the lock and aqueducts on the upper section were dismantled. The railway opened on 17 August 1854.<ref name="body">G. Body and R. Gallop, (2001), ''The Glastonbury Canal'', Fiducia Press, {{ISBN|0-946217-08-4}}</ref> The lower sections of the canal were given to the Commissioners for Sewers,<ref name="swdt">[http://www.somerset-waterways.org/somerset-waterways-water.html Somerset Waterways Development Trust] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705121844/http://www.somerset-waterways.org/somerset-waterways-water.html |date=5 July 2008 }}</ref> for use as a drainage ditch. The final section was retained to provide a wharf for the railway company, which was used until 1936, when it passed to the Commissioners of Sewers and was filled in.<ref name="body" /> The Central Somerset Railway merged with the Dorset Central Railway to become the Somerset and Dorset Railway.<ref>Handley, Chris, (2001). ''The Maritime Activities of the Somerset & Dorset Railway''. Bath: Millstream Books. {{ISBN|0-948975-63-6}}.</ref> The main line to Glastonbury closed in 1966.<ref name="body" />

In the Northover district industrial production of sheepskins, woollen slippers and, later, [[Engineering:Boot|boot]]s and shoes,<ref name="scott">{{cite book |title=The hidden places of Somerset |last=Scott |first=Shane |year=1995 |publisher=Travel Publishing Ltd |location=Aldermaston |isbn=1-902007-01-8 |page=82 }}</ref> developed in conjunction with the growth of C&J Clark in Street. Clarks still has its headquarters in Street, but shoes are no longer manufactured there. Instead, in 1993, redundant factory buildings were converted to form Clarks Village, the first purpose-built factory outlet in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Street|url=http://www.visitsomerset.co.uk/explore-somerset/towns-and-villages/street-p500233|publisher=Visit Somerset|access-date=6 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505091136/http://www.visitsomerset.co.uk/explore-somerset/towns-and-villages/street-p500233|archive-date=5 May 2013}}</ref>

During the 19th and 20th centuries tourism developed based on the rise of [[Social:Antiquarian|antiquarian]]ism, the association with the abbey and mysticism of the town.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bush|first=Robin|title=Somerset: The complete guide|year=1994|publisher=Dovecote Press|isbn=1-874336-26-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/104 104–108]|url=https://archive.org/details/somersetcomplete0000bush/page/104}}</ref> This was aided by accessibility via the rail and road network, which has continued to support the town's economy and led to a steady rise in resident population since 1801.<ref name="gathercole" />

Glastonbury received national media coverage in 1999 when [[Biology:Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] plants were found in the town's floral displays.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glastonbury.com/|title=Glastonbury|publisher=Glastonbury.com|access-date=20 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509123551/http://www.glastonbury.com/|archive-date=9 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/360351.stm|title=Hemp-lover in court over pot plants|date=3 June 1999|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=20 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728084342/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/360351.stm|archive-date=28 July 2011}}</ref>

==Mythology and legends==
Glastonbury is notable for myths and legends concerning Joseph of Arimathea, the [[Religion:Holy Grail|Holy Grail]] and King Arthur as recorded by ancient historians William of Malmesbury''', '''[[Biography:Bede|Venerable Bede]], Gerald of Wales and [[Biography:Geoffrey of Monmouth|Geoffrey of Monmouth]].<ref name="britannia.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/abbey.html|title=Glastonbury Abbey and the Legends of King Arthur and Joseph of Arimathea|website=www.britannia.com|access-date=2017-12-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516221315/http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/abbey.html|archive-date=16 May 2017}}</ref> Many long-standing and cherished legends were examined in a four-year study by archaeologists, led by Professor Roberta Gilchrist, at the [[Organization:University of Reading|University of Reading]], who, amongst other findings, speculated that the connection with King Arthur and his Queen, Guinevere, was created deliberately by the monks in 1184 to meet a financial crisis caused by a devastating fire.<ref name="guardianmyths">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/nov/23/glastonbury-myths-made-up-by-12th-century-monks |title=Glastonbury myths 'made up by 12th-century monks' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 November 2015 |author=Maev Kennedy |access-date=26 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123160852/http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/nov/23/glastonbury-myths-made-up-by-12th-century-monks |archive-date=23 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/research/projects/arch-rg-glastonbury.aspx|title=Glastonbury Abbey: the archaeological story - University of Reading|last=Reading|first=The University of|website=www.reading.ac.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-12-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811070757/http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/research/Projects/arch-RG-Glastonbury.aspx|archive-date=11 August 2011}}</ref> Other myths examined include the visit by Jesus, the building of the oldest church in England, and the flowering of the walking stick. Roberta Gilchrist stated, "We didn't claim to disprove the legendary associations, nor would we wish to".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archaeology.org/issues/208-1603/trenches/4172-trenches-england-glastonbury-abbey|title=Legends of Glastonbury Abbey - Archaeology Magazine|last=URBANUS|first=JASON|website=www.archaeology.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-12-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706122910/http://www.archaeology.org/issues/208-1603/trenches/4172-trenches-england-glastonbury-abbey|archive-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> The site of King Arthur's supposed grave contained material dating from between the 11th and 15th centuries. Gilchrist said, "That doesn't dispel the Arthurian legend, it just means the pit [20th century archaeologist Ralegh Radford] excavated he rather over-claimed."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-34908894|title=New research 'rewrites' abbey myths|date=2015-11-24|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-12-09|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221021146/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-34908894|archive-date=21 December 2017}}</ref> The study made new archaeological finds; its leader found Glastonbury to be a remarkable archaeological site. The new results were reported on the Glastonbury Abbey Web site,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/news_item.php?sid=62438e5b5bc38d8633e6af455216cd45&id=1000659 |title=Medieval mythbusting - new research rewrites history of Glastonbury Abbey |newspaper=Glastonbury Abbey Web site |date=23 November 2015 |access-date=26 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228163401/https://www.glastonburyabbey.com/news_item.php?sid=62438e5b5bc38d8633e6af455216cd45&id=1000659 |archive-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> and were to be incorporated into the Abbey's guidebook; however, the leader of the study, who became a trustee of Glastonbury, said "We are not in the business of destroying people's beliefs ... A thousand years of beliefs and legends are part of the intangible history of this remarkable place".<ref name="guardianmyths" /> Gilchrist went on to say, "archaeology can help us to understand how legends evolve and what people in the past believed". She noted that the project has actually uncovered the first definitive proof of occupation at the Glastonbury Abbey site during the fifth century—when Arthur allegedly lived.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.archaeology.org/issues/208-1603/trenches/4172-trenches-england-glastonbury-abbey|title=Legends of Glastonbury Abbey - Archaeology Magazine|last=URBANUS|first=JASON|website=www.archaeology.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-12-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706122910/http://www.archaeology.org/issues/208-1603/trenches/4172-trenches-england-glastonbury-abbey|archive-date=6 July 2017}}</ref>

The legend that Joseph of Arimathea retrieved certain holy relics was introduced by the French poet Robert de Boron in his 13th-century version of the grail story, thought to have been a trilogy though only fragments of the later books survive today. The work became the inspiration for the later Vulgate Cycle of Arthurian tales.<ref>{{cite book|last=de Boron|first=Robert|title=Romanz De L'estoire Dou Graal. Published in the 13th century|year=2012|publisher=Project Gutenberg|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4936|isbn=978-1-153-68487-3|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018102756/http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4936|url-status=live}}</ref>

De Boron's account relates how Joseph captured Jesus's blood in a cup (the "Holy Grail") which was subsequently brought to Britain. The Vulgate Cycle reworked Boron's original tale. Joseph of Arimathea was no longer the chief character in the Grail origin: Joseph's son, Josephus, took over his role of the Grail keeper.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vulgate history of the grail|url=http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/keeper.html#Vulgate|publisher=Timeless Myths|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623093301/http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/keeper.html#Vulgate|archive-date=23 June 2010}}</ref>
The earliest versions of the grail romance, however, do not call the grail "holy" or mention anything about blood, Joseph or Glastonbury.

In 1191, monks at the abbey claimed to have found the graves of Arthur and Guinevere to the south of the Lady Chapel of the Abbey Church, which was visited by a number of contemporary historians including Giraldus Cambrensis.<ref>{{cite web|title=King Arthur & Avalon|url=http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/arthur.php|publisher=Glastonbury Abbey|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711100210/http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/arthur.php|archive-date=11 July 2011}}</ref> The remains were later moved and were lost during the [[Religion:English Reformation|Reformation]]. Many scholars suspect that this discovery was a pious forgery to substantiate the antiquity of Glastonbury's foundation, and increase its renown.<ref>{{cite book|last=Carley|first=James P.|title=Glastonbury Abbey The Holy House at the Head of the Moors Adventurous|year=1996|publisher=Gothic Image Publications|isbn=978-0-906362-23-5|chapter-url=http://www.gothicimage.co.uk/books/glastabbey8.html|chapter=8 Arthur, Avalon and the Bridge Perilous|access-date=25 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609211443/http://www.gothicimage.co.uk/books/glastabbey8.html|archive-date=9 June 2011}}</ref>

An early Welsh poem links Arthur to the Tor in an account of a confrontation between Arthur and Melwas, who had kidnapped Queen Guinevere.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queen Guinevere|url=http://www.arthurian-legend.com/more-about/more-about-arthur-9.php|publisher=Arthurian Legend|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214163640/http://www.arthurian-legend.com/more-about/more-about-arthur-9.php|archive-date=14 February 2010}}</ref>[[File:Glastonbury Thorn.jpg|thumb| [[Biology:Glastonbury Thorn|Holy Thorn]], summer 1984. Died in 1991.|left]]
Joseph is said to have arrived in Glastonbury by boat over the flooded Somerset Levels. On disembarking he stuck his staff into the ground and it flowered miraculously into the [[Biology:Glastonbury Thorn|Glastonbury Thorn]] (also called Holy Thorn). This is said to explain a hybrid [[Biology:Crataegus monogyna|Crataegus monogyna]] (hawthorn) tree that only grows within a few miles of Glastonbury, and which flowers twice annually, once in spring and again around Christmas time (depending on the weather). Each year a sprig of thorn is cut, by the local Anglican vicar and the eldest child from St John's School, and sent to the Queen.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wheeler|first=David|title=Branch lines: the Glastonbury thorn|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3296455/Branch-lines-the-Glastonbury-thorn.html|access-date=5 July 2010|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=12 January 2002|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114155151/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3296455/Branch-lines-the-Glastonbury-thorn.html|archive-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

The original Holy Thorn was a centre of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages but was chopped down during the English Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stout|first=Adam|title=The Thorn and The Waters Miraculous Glastonbury in the Eighteenth Century|url=http://glastonburyantiquarians.org/site/files/1211915309-The%20Thorn%20and%20the%20Waters%20%20PDF.pdf|access-date=22 August 2010|page=6|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214094938/http://glastonburyantiquarians.org/site/files/1211915309-The%20Thorn%20and%20the%20Waters%20%20PDF.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2010}}</ref> A replacement thorn was planted in the 20th century on Wearyall hill (originally in 1951 to mark the Festival of Britain, but the thorn had to be replanted the following year as the first attempt did not take).<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bowman|first=Marion|date=August 2006|title=The Holy Thorn Ceremony: Revival, Rivalry and Civil Religion in Glastonbury|journal=Folklore|volume=117|pages=117 123–140|doi=10.1080/00155870600707805|issue=2|s2cid=161605141}}</ref> The Wearyall Hill Holy Thorn was vandalised in 2010 and all its branches were chopped off.<ref>{{cite news|title=The mystery over who attacked the Holy Thorn Tree|work=BBC News|date=4 April 2012|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17589575|access-date=9 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222011451/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17589575|archive-date=22 December 2013}}</ref> It initially showed signs of recovery but now (2014) appears to be dead. A new sapling has been planted nearby.  Many other examples of the thorn grow throughout Glastonbury including those in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey, St Johns Church and Chalice Well.

Today, Glastonbury Abbey presents itself as "traditionally the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world," which according to the legend was built at Joseph's behest to house the [[Religion:Holy Grail|Holy Grail]], 65 or so years after the death of Jesus.<ref>{{cite web|title=Joseph of Arimathea|url=http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/joseph_of_arimathea.php?sid=62438e5b5bc38d8633e6af455216cd45|publisher=Glastonbury Abbey|access-date=26 November 2015|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322100158/http://www.glastonburyabbey.com/joseph_of_arimathea.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The legend also says that as a child, Jesus had visited Glastonbury along with Joseph. The legend probably was encouraged during the medieval period when religious relics and pilgrimages were profitable business for abbeys. [[Biography:William Blake|William Blake]] mentioned the legend in a poem that became a popular hymn, "Jerusalem".<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerusalem |url=http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/jerusalem/features/and-did-those-feet |publisher=Icons.org |access-date=5 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212021243/http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/jerusalem/features/and-did-those-feet |archive-date=12 December 2009}}</ref>

===Glastonbury zodiac===
{{main|Unsolved:Temple of the Stars}}

In 1934 artist Katherine Maltwood suggested a [[Unsolved:Landscape zodiac|landscape zodiac]], a map of the stars on a gigantic scale, formed by features in the landscape such as roads, streams and field boundaries, could be found situated around Glastonbury.<ref>Maltwood, K. E. ''A Guide to Glastonbury's Temple of the Stars: Their Giant Effigies Described From Air Views, Maps, and From "The High History of the Holy Grail"'' (London, The Women's Printing Society, Ltd., 1934). Her next book on the subject matter, ''Air View Supplement to a Guide To Glastonbury's Temple of The Stars'' was published in 1937.</ref> She held that the "temple" was created by Sumerians about 2700&nbsp;BC. The idea of a prehistoric landscape zodiac fell into disrepute when two independent studies examined the Glastonbury Zodiac, one by Ian Burrow in 1975<ref>Ian Burrow, Somerset's Planning Department staff archeologist, concluded that "while the outlines of the effigies may be plotted today, their antiquity is illusory" {{cite web |url=http://sites.google.com/site/alisonsinc/maltwood'szodiac |title=Maltwood's zodiac - alisonsinc |access-date=2011-10-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328230039/http://sites.google.com/site/alisonsinc/maltwood%27szodiac |archive-date=28 March 2012 }}</ref> and the other by Tom Williamson and Liz Bellamy in 1983.<ref>Tom Williamson, Liz Bellamy, ''Ley Lines in Question'', pages 162-168. (Tadworth, UK: World's Work, 1983). {{ISBN|0-437-19205-9}}</ref> These both used standard methods of landscape historical research. Both studies concluded that the evidence contradicted the idea of an ancient zodiac. The eye of [[Unsolved:Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] identified by Maltwood was a haystack. The western wing of the Aquarius phoenix was a road laid in 1782 to run around Glastonbury, and older maps dating back to the 1620s show the road had no predecessors. The Cancer boat (not a crab as in conventional western astrology) consists of a network of 18th-century drainage ditches and paths. There are some Neolithic paths preserved in the peat of the bog formerly comprising most of the area, but none of the known paths match the lines of the zodiac features. There is no support for this theory, or for the existence of the "temple" in any form, from conventional archaeologists.<ref>{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Tom|title=Ley Lines in Question|year=1983|publisher=Littlehampton Book Services Ltd|isbn=978-0-437-19205-9|author2=Liz Bellamy}}</ref> Glastonbury is also said to be the centre of several [[Unsolved:Ley line|ley line]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/leymap.html|title=The ancient landscape around Glastonbury|last=Jenkins|first=Palden|publisher=Glasonbury Tor|access-date=28 March 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408093651/http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/leymap.html|archive-date=8 April 2010}}</ref>

==Governance and public services==
[[File:Glastonbury Town Hall.jpg|thumb|Glastonbury Town Hall]]
The town council is made up of 16 members,<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury Town Council Members|url=http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/g_gov/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=3500&page_id=37|publisher=Glastonbury Town Council|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724153601/http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/g_gov/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=3500&page_id=37|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> and is based at Glastonbury Town Hall, Magdalene Street. The town hall was built in 1814 and has a two-storey late Georgian ashlar front.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://glastonbury.gov.uk/council/civic-history/|title=Civic History|publisher=Glastonbury Town Council|access-date=26 October 2021|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027192632/https://glastonbury.gov.uk/council/civic-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a Grade II* listed building.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Town Hall|num=1057904|access-date=5 July 2010 }}</ref>

For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, Glastonbury comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Mendip, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Glastonbury Municipal Borough.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury MB|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025503|work=A vision of Britain Through Time|publisher=University of Portsmouth|access-date=4 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105025555/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025503|archive-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> 

The town's retained fire station is operated by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/YourArea/SomersetCommand/Stations/GlastonburyFireStation.cfm?SiteCategoryId=12&T1ID=59&T2ID=69&T3ID=42|title=Glastonbury Fire Station|publisher=Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823101511/http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/YourArea/SomersetCommand/Stations/GlastonburyFireStation.cfm?siteCategoryId=12&T1ID=59&T2ID=69&T3ID=42|archive-date=23 August 2013}}</ref> Police and ambulance services are provided by Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the South Western Ambulance Service. There are two doctors' surgeries in Glastonbury,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glastonburysurgery.co.uk|title=Glastonbury Surgery|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831105342/http://glastonburysurgery.co.uk/|archive-date=31 August 2010}} and the {{cite web|url=http://www.glastonburyhealthcentre.co.uk|title=Glastonbury Health Centre|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801135634/http://www.glastonburyhealthcentre.co.uk/|archive-date=1 August 2012}}. Retrieved 8 September 2010</ref> and a National Health Service community hospital operated by Somerset Primary Care Trust which opened in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somerset.nhs.uk/community/our-services2/community-hospitals/west-mendip-community-hospital/|title=West Mendip Hospital|publisher=Somerset Community Health|access-date=8 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814154457/http://www.somerset.nhs.uk/community/our-services2/community-hospitals/west-mendip-community-hospital/|archive-date=14 August 2011}}</ref>

There are 4 electoral wards within ''Glastonbury'' having in total the same population as is mentioned above.

Glastonbury falls within the Wells constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The Member of Parliament is Conservative, James Heappey, who replaced Tessa Munt of the Liberal Democrats in the 2015 general election.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/f02.stm | publisher= BBC News | work= Election 2010 | title= Wells | access-date= 7 May 2010 | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170904072203/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/f02.stm | url-status= live }}</ref>

Glastonbury is twinned with the Greek island of [[Religion:Patmos|Patmos]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Twinning with Patmos|url=http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/g_gov/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=72&page_id=197|publisher=Glastonbury Town Council|access-date=4 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724153333/http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/g_gov/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=72&page_id=197|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> and Lalibela, Ethiopia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Twinning with Lalibela|url=http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/g_gov/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=73&page_id=199|publisher=Glastonbury Town Council|access-date=4 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724153457/http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/g_gov/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=73&page_id=199|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Street and Glastonbury Tor.jpg|thumb|Street and Glastonbury Tor viewed from Walton Hill]]
The walk up the Tor to the distinctive tower at the summit (the partially restored remains of an old church) is rewarded by vistas of the mid-Somerset area, including the Levels which are drained marshland. From there, on a [[Earth:Dry point|dry point]], {{convert|158|m|ft}} above sea level,<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury Tor Conservation Statement|url=http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/conservation.html|publisher=National Trust|access-date=4 July 2010|date=February 1999|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825010331/http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/conservation.html|archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref> it is easy to appreciate how Glastonbury was once an island and, in the winter, the surrounding moors are often flooded, giving that appearance once more. It is an agricultural region typically with open fields of permanent grass, surrounded by ditches with [[Biology:Willow|willow]] trees. Access to the moors and Levels is by "droves", i.e., green lanes. The Levels and inland moors can be {{convert|6|m|ft|0}} below peak tides and have large areas of [[Earth:Peat|peat]]. The low-lying areas are underlain by much older [[Earth:Triassic|Triassic]] age formations of Upper Lias sand that protrude to form what would once have been islands and include Glastonbury Tor.<ref name="natengsomerset">{{cite web |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/geological/sites/area_ID30.asp |title=Somerset |access-date=10 June 2007 |work=Natural England |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610043102/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Special/geological/sites/area_ID30.asp |archive-date=10 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="ncprofile">{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalareas.naturalengland.org.uk/Science/natural/profiles/naProfile85.pdf |title=Somerset Levels and Moors Natural Area&nbsp;– A nature conservation profile July 1997 |access-date=10 June 2007 |work=English Nature |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184747/http://www.naturalareas.naturalengland.org.uk/Science/natural/profiles/naProfile85.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> The lowland landscape was formed only during the last 10,000&nbsp;years, following the end of the [[Earth:Last glacial period|last ice age]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hardy |first=Peter |title=The Geology of Somerset |year=1999 |publisher=Ex Libris Press |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=0-948578-42-4 | pages=185–186 }}</ref>

The low-lying damp ground can produce a visual effect known as a [[Earth:Fata Morgana (mirage)|Fata Morgana]]. This [[Physics:Optical phenomenon|optical phenomenon]] occurs because rays of light are strongly bent when they pass through air layers of different temperatures in a steep thermal inversion where an [[Physics:Atmospheric duct|atmospheric duct]] has formed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Young|first=Andrew|title=An Introduction to Mirages|url=http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/mirages/mirintro.html|publisher=San Diego State University|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110045709/http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/mirages/mirintro.html|archive-date=10 January 2010}}</ref> The Italian name ''Fata Morgana'' is derived from the name of [[Biography:Morgan le Fay|Morgan le Fay]], who was alternatively known as Morgane, Morgain, Morgana and other variants. Morgan le Fay was described as a powerful [[Unsolved:Magician (fantasy)|sorceress]] and antagonist of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere in the Arthurian legend.

Glastonbury is less than {{convert|1|mi|km|0}} across the River Brue from the village of Street. At the time of King Arthur the Brue formed a lake just south of the hilly ground on which Glastonbury stands. This lake is one of the locations suggested by Arthurian legend as the home of the [[Unsolved:Lady of the Lake|Lady of the Lake]]. Pomparles Bridge stood at the western end of this lake, guarding Glastonbury from the south, and it is suggested that it was here that Sir Bedivere threw Excalibur into the waters after King Arthur fell at the Battle of Camlann.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pomparles Bridge |work=ArthurianAdventure.com |url=http://www.arthurianadventure.com/pomparles_bridge.htm |access-date=11 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017095426/http://www.arthurianadventure.com/pomparles_bridge.htm |archive-date=17 October 2008 }}</ref> The old bridge was replaced by a reinforced concrete arch bridge in 1911.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pomparles Bridge, Northover, Glastonbury|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/23577|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|access-date=4 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003122059/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/23577|archive-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

Until the 13th century, the direct route to the sea at Highbridge was prevented by gravel banks and peat near Westhay.<ref>{{cite web | title=Meare and Ferran Mere | work=Sacred Sites around Glastonbury | url=http://www.isleofavalon.co.uk/sacredsites/meare.html | access-date=1 November 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802135217/http://www.isleofavalon.co.uk/sacredsites/meare.html | archive-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> The course of the river partially encircled Glastonbury from the south, around the western side (through Beckery), and then north through the Panborough-Bleadney gap in the Wedmore-Wookey Hills, to join the River Axe just north of Bleadney. This route made it difficult for the officials of Glastonbury Abbey to transport produce from their outlying estates to the abbey, and when the valley of the River Axe was in flood it backed up to flood Glastonbury itself. Some time between 1230 and 1250 a new channel was constructed westwards into Meare Pool north of Meare, and further westwards to Mark Moor. The Brue Valley Living Landscape is a [[Biology:Conservation biology|conservation]] project based on the Somerset Levels and Moors and managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust.<ref name="Brue Valley living landscape">{{cite web|title=Brue Valley Living Landscape|url=http://www.somersetwildlife.org/brue_valley.html|publisher=Somerset Wildlife Trust|access-date=2 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030653/http://www.somersetwildlife.org/brue_valley.html|archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> The project commenced in January 2009 and aims to restore, recreate and reconnect [[Earth:Habitat|habitat]], ensuring that wildlife is enhanced and capable of sustaining itself in the face of [[Earth:Climate change|climate change]], while guaranteeing farmers and other landowners can continue to use their land profitably.<ref name="Brue Valley living landscape"/> It is one of an increasing number of [[Biology:Landscape-scale conservation|landscape-scale conservation]] projects in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=a living landscape|url=http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/?section=environment:livinglandscapes|publisher=Wildlife Trusts|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030423/http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/?section=environment%3Alivinglandscapes|archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Glastonbury town centre arp.jpg|thumb|The town centre in summer 2010]]

The Ham Wall National Nature Reserve, {{convert|4|km|mi}} west of Glastonbury, is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/hamwall/index.asp|title=Ham Wall|publisher=RSPB|access-date=1 February 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206095352/http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/hamwall/index.asp|archive-date=6 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006955.aspx|title=Ham Wall NNR|publisher=Natural England|access-date=1 February 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902063357/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006955.aspx|archive-date=2 September 2010}}</ref> This new wetland habitat has been established from out peat diggings and now consists of areas of reedbed, wet scrub, open water and peripheral grassland and woodland. Bird species living on the site include the bearded tit and the [[Biology:Eurasian bittern|Eurasian bittern]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ham Wall|url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/hamwall/index.aspx|publisher=RSPB|access-date=6 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426050135/http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/hamwall/index.aspx|archive-date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

The Whitelake River rises between two low [[Earth:Limestone|limestone]] ridges to the north of Glastonbury, part of the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. The [[Earth:Confluence|confluence]] of the two small streams that make the Whitelake River is on Worthy Farm, the site of the Glastonbury Festival, between the small villages of Pilton and Pylle.

==Climate==
Along with the rest of South West England, Glastonbury has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country.<ref name="weather">{{cite web|title=South West England: climate |work=Met Office |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/sw/ |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605003222/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/sw/ |archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> The annual mean temperature is approximately {{convert|10|°C|°F|1}}. Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately {{convert|21|°C|°F|1}}. In winter mean minimum temperatures of {{convert|1|or|2|°C|°F|1}} are common.<ref name="weather"/> In the summer the Azores high pressure affects the south-west of England, however convective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600&nbsp;hours.<ref name="weather"/> In December 1998 there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton. Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by [[Physics:Low-pressure area|Atlantic depressions]] or by [[Astronomy:Convection|convection]]. Most of the rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around {{convert|700|mm|abbr=on}}. About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.<ref name="weather"/>

==Economy==
[[File:Glastonbury High street.jpg|thumb|The High Street]]
Glastonbury is a centre for religious tourism and pilgrimage. As with many towns of similar size, the centre is not as thriving as it once was but Glastonbury supports a large number of alternative shops.

The outskirts of the town contain a DIY shop, a former sheepskin and slipper factory site, once owned by Morlands, which is slowly being redeveloped. The {{convert|31|acre|adj=on}} site of the old Morlands factory was scheduled for demolition and redevelopment into a new light industrial park,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/news/release.asp?ReleaseID=882|title=Morlands demolition progressing well|date=7 August 2003|publisher=South West RDA|access-date=8 April 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112141340/http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/news/release.asp?ReleaseID=882|archive-date=12 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/3383521.stm|title=Old tannery demolition continues|date=9 January 2004|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 April 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040112061652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/3383521.stm|archive-date=12 January 2004}}</ref> although there have been some protests that the buildings should be reused rather than being demolished. As part of the redevelopment of the site a project has been established by the Glastonbury Community Development Trust to provide support for local unemployed people applying for employment, starting in self-employment and accessing work-related training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somerset-rural-renaissance.co.uk/projects-west-mendip-opportunities.html |title=West Mendip Opportunities |publisher=Somerset Rural Regeneration |access-date=14 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123053308/http://www.somerset-rural-renaissance.co.uk/projects-west-mendip-opportunities.html |archive-date=23 November 2008}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
According to the Glastonbury Conservation Area Appraisal of July 2010, there are approximately 170 listed buildings or structures in the town's designated conservation area, of which eight are listed grade I, six are listed grade II* and the remainder are listed grade II.<ref>{{cite web|title=Conservation Area Appraisal Glastonbury|url=http://m.mendip.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3081|publisher=Mendip Council|access-date=4 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210211825/http://m.mendip.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3081|archive-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>

The Tribunal was a medieval merchant's house, used as the Abbey courthouse and, during the Monmouth Rebellion trials, by Judge Jeffreys.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1345457|desc=The Tribunal|access-date=20 August 2008 }}</ref> It now serves as a museum containing possessions and works of art from the Glastonbury Lake Village which were preserved in almost perfect condition in the peat after the village was abandoned. The museum is run by the Glastonbury Antiquarian Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glastonburyantiquarians.org/site/index.php|title=Glastonbury Antiquarian Society|publisher=Glastonbury Antiquarian Society|access-date=22 May 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523103947/http://glastonburyantiquarians.org/site/index.php|archive-date=23 May 2009}}</ref> The building also houses the tourist information centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glastonburytic.co.uk/|title=Glastonbury Tourist Information Centre|publisher=Glastonbury Tourist Information Centre|access-date=22 May 2009|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605224322/http://www.glastonburytic.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn, Glastonbury.JPG|thumb|left|upright|George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn]]
The octagonal Market Cross was built in 1846 by Benjamin Ferrey.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1057910|desc=Market Cross|access-date=20 August 2008 }}</ref>

The George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn was built in the late 15th century to accommodate visitors to Glastonbury Abbey, which is open to visitors. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.<ref name="Ioe">{{NHLE | desc=George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn | num=1345455 | access-date=11 November 2006 }}</ref> The front of the 3-storey building is divided into 3 tiers of panels with traceried heads. Above the right of centre entrance are 3 carved panels with arms of the Abbey and Edward IV.<ref name="Ioe"/>

The Somerset Rural Life Museum is a museum of the social and agricultural history of Somerset, housed in buildings surrounding a 14th-century barn once belonging to Glastonbury Abbey. It was used for the storage of arable produce, particularly wheat and rye, from the abbey's home farm of approximately {{convert|524|acre|km2}}. Threshing and winnowing would also have been carried out in the barn, which was built from local shelly limestone with thick timbers supporting the stone tiling of the roof. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building, and is a scheduled monument.<ref>{{NHLE | desc=Abbey Tithe Barn, including attached wall to east | num=1057953 | access-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:Chalice Well Cover.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Cover of the Chalice Well]]
The Chalice Well is a holy [[Earth:Water well|well]] at the foot of the Tor, covered by a wooden well-cover with wrought-iron decoration made in 1919. The natural spring has been in almost constant use for at least two thousand years. Water issues from the spring at a rate of {{convert|25000|impgal}} per day and has never failed, even during drought. [[Chemistry:Iron oxide|Iron oxide]] deposits give the water a reddish hue, as dissolved ferrous oxide becomes oxygenated at the surface and is precipitated, providing [[Chemistry:Chalybeate|chalybeate]] waters. As with the hot springs in nearby Bath, the water is believed to possess healing qualities. The well is about {{convert|9|ft|m}} deep, with two underground chambers at its bottom.<ref name=IOEChaliceWell>{{NHLE|num=1167594 |desc=The Chalice Well |access-date=20 August 2008 }}</ref> It is often portrayed as a symbol of the female aspect of [[Religion:Deity|deity]], with the male symbolised by Glastonbury Tor (however, some consider Glastonbury Tor to be a 'hugh bounteous female figure'<ref>Kathy Jones, The Tor Goddess, Glastonbury Tor | The Tor Goddess.</ref>). As such, it is a popular destination for pilgrims in search of the divine feminine, including modern Pagans. The well is however popular with all faiths and in 2001 became a World Peace Garden.<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.worldpeacegardensnet.org/members.htm|publisher=World Peace Gardens Network|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323105737/http://www.worldpeacegardensnet.org/members.htm|archive-date=23 March 2010}}</ref>

Just a short distance from the Chalice Well site, across a road known as Well House Lane, can be found the "White Spring", where a temple has been created in the 21st century. Whilst the waters of the Chalice Well are touched red with iron, the water of the latter is white with [[Chemistry:Calcite|calcite]]. Some people consider the red water of Chalice Well to have male properties, whilst the white water of White Spring has female qualities.<ref>BBC. Helen Otter, Earth Energies in Glastonbury, BBC - Somerset - Faith - Earth energies in Glastonbury</ref> Both springs rise from caverns underneath the Tor and it is claimed that both have healing in their flow.<ref>{{cite web|title=The White Spring|url=http://www.whitespring.org.uk/|publisher=The White Spring|access-date=4 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923104433/http://www.whitespring.org.uk/|archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

The building now used as the White Spring Temple was originally a Victorian-built well house, erected by the local water board in 1872. Around that time, an outbreak of [[Medicine:Cholera|cholera]] in the area caused great concern and the natural caves were dug out, and a stone collection chamber was constructed to ensure the flow of a quality water supply. Study of the flow of water into the collection chamber has shown that the builders also tapped into other springs, besides the White Spring and judging from the high iron content of one of these springs, it appears that a small offshoot of Chalice Well finds its way under Well House Lane to emerge beside the White Spring.<ref name=receptioncentre>{{cite web|title=The White Spring|url=http://www.unitythroughdiversity.org/the-white-spring.html|publisher=Glastonbury Reception Centre and Sanctuary|access-date=4 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005024229/http://www.unitythroughdiversity.org/the-white-spring.html|archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> However, after building the reservoir, the water board soon discovered that the high calciferous content of the water caused pipes to block and by the end of the 19th century water was piped into Glastonbury from out of town. After lying derelict for many years, the water board sold off the well house, which is now maintained by a group of volunteers as a "water temple".<ref name=receptioncentre/> On the outside of the building is a tap where visitors and locals can collect the water of the White Spring.

==Transport==
The Glastonbury Canal ran just over {{convert|14|mi|km}} through two locks from Glastonbury to Highbridge where it entered the Bristol Channel in the early 19th century,<ref>{{cite book|last=Dunning |first=Robert |title=A History of Somerset |year=1983 |publisher=Phillimore & Co |location=Chichester |isbn=0-85033-461-6 |pages=83–85}}</ref> but it became uneconomic with the arrival of the railway in the 1840s.<ref name=hadfield>Charles Hadfield, (1967), ''The Canals of South West England'', David and Charles, {{ISBN|0-7153-4176-6}}</ref>

Glastonbury and Street railway station was the biggest station on the original Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway main line from Highbridge to Evercreech Junction until closed in 1966 under the Beeching axe. Opened in 1854 as Glastonbury, and renamed in 1886, it had three platforms, two for Evercreech to Highbridge services and one for the branch service to Wells. The station had a large goods yard controlled from a signal box.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury|url=http://www.sdjr.net/locations/glastonbury.html|publisher=Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway|access-date=3 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506140613/http://www.sdjr.net/locations/glastonbury.html|archive-date=6 May 2011}}</ref> The site is now a timber yard for a local company. Replica level crossing gates have been placed at the entrance.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nevard |first=Chris |title=Glastonbury after closure |url=http://www.nevard.com/sdjr/glastonbury.htm |publisher=Nevard Media |access-date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216205407/http://www.nevard.com/sdjr/glastonbury.htm |archive-date=16 December 2009 }}</ref>

The nearest railway station is at {{stnlnk|Castle Cary}} but there is no direct bus route linking it to Glastonbury. There are convenient bus connections between Glastonbury and the railway stations at {{stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}} (over an hour travelling time) and at {{stnlnk|Taunton}}. It is also served by Berrys Coaches daily 'Superfast' service to and from London.<ref>https://book.berryscoaches.co.uk/superfast-timetables.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206130339/https://book.berryscoaches.co.uk/superfast-timetables.html |date=6 February 2021 }} Superfast Timetable</ref>

The main road in the town is the A39 which passes through Glastonbury from Wells connecting the town with Street and the M5 motorway. The other roads around the town are small and run across the levels generally following the drainage ditches. Local bus services are provided by Buses of Somerset (part of First), First West of England, Frome Bus & Libra Travel. The main routes are to Bristol via Wells, to Bridgwater, to Yeovil via Street and to Taunton.There is also a coach service to London Victoria provided by Berrys.

==Local media==
Television programmes and local news is provided by BBC West and ITV West Country from the Mendip TV transmitter. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Mendip | title=Mendip (Somerset, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref>

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Somerset on 95.5 FM, Heart West on 102.6 FM, Greatest Hits Radio South West on 102.4 FM, Worthy FM on 87.7 FM which broadcast during The Glastonbury Festival and GWS Radio on 107.1 FM, a community radio station. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://gws-radio.org.uk/about-us/ | title=About Us – GWS Radio }}</ref>

The town’s local newspapers are the Mid Somerset Series, Western Daily Press, Somerset County Gazette and Somerset Live.

==Education==
There are several infant and primary schools in Glastonbury and the surrounding villages. Secondary education is provided by St Dunstan's School. In 2017, the school had 327 students between the ages of 11 and 16 years.<ref name="ofsted">{{cite web|url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/123867 |title=St Dunstan's Community School |publisher=Ofsted |access-date=28 December 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216070043/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/%28urn%29/123867 |archive-date=16 February 2011 }}</ref> It is named after St. Dunstan, an abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, who went on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury in 960 AD. The school was built in 1958 with major building work, at a cost of £1.2&nbsp;million, in 1998, adding the science block and the sports hall. It was designated as a specialist Arts College in 2004, and the £800,000 spent at this time paid for the Performing Arts studio and facilities to support students with special educational needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.st-dunstans.somerset.sch.uk/About/History--Development-of-the-School/|title=History & Development of the School|publisher=St Dunstan's School|access-date=6 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525072521/http://www.st-dunstans.somerset.sch.uk/About/History--Development-of-the-School/|archive-date=25 May 2013}}</ref> Tor School is a pupil referral unit based on Beckery New Road, which caters for 14-16-year-old students who have been excluded from mainstream education, or who have been referred for medical reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torschool.org/|title=Tor School|publisher=Tor School|access-date=19 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219184945/http://www.torschool.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Strode College in Street provides academic and vocational courses for those aged 16–18 and adult education. A tertiary institution and [[Social:Further education|further education]] college, most of the courses it offers are A-levels or Business and Technology Education Councils (BTECs). The college also provides some university-level courses,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.strode-college.ac.uk/download/59_UniLevelProspectus09-10.pdf |title=University Level courses |publisher=Strode College |access-date=5 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128061520/http://www.strode-college.ac.uk/download/59_UniLevelProspectus09-10.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2009 }}</ref> and is part of The University of Plymouth Colleges network.

==Religious sites and faith groups==
[[File:Abbey at Glastonbury - geograph.org.uk - 28946.jpg|thumb|left|Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey]]
Glastonbury may have been a site of religious importance in pre-Christian times.<ref>Ashe, Geoffrey, ''From Caesar to Arthur'', University of Michigan, 1960. Page 87</ref> The abbey was founded by Britons, and dates to at least the early 7th century, although later medieval Christian legend claimed that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. This legend is intimately tied to Robert de Boron's version of the [[Religion:Holy Grail|Holy Grail]] story and to Glastonbury's connection to King Arthur, which dates at least to the early 12th century.<ref>Ashe, Geoffrey, ''From Caesar to Arthur'', University of Michigan, 1960. pages 83–90; see also Alfred K. Siewers, "Gildas and Glastonbury: Revisiting the Origins of Glastonbury Abbey," in "Via Crucis: Essays on Early Medieval Sources and Ideas in Memory of J. E. Cross," ed. Thomas Hall et al., West Virginia University Press, 2002. pages 423-432 </ref> William of Malmesbury called this structure "the oldest church in England," and thenceforth it was known simply as the Old Church, inasmuch as it had existed for many years prior to the 7th century as a Celtic religious centre.<ref name="britannia.com"/> In his "History of the English Church and People," written in the early eighth century, the [[Biography:Bede|Venerable Bede]] provides details regarding its construction to early missionaries.<ref name="britannia.com"/> Glastonbury fell into Saxon hands after the Battle of Peonnum in 658. King Ine of Wessex enriched the endowment of the community of [[Philosophy:Monk|monk]]s already established at Glastonbury. He is said to have directed that a stone church be built in 712. The Abbey Church was enlarged in the 10th century by the Abbot of Glastonbury, Saint Dunstan, the central figure in the 10th-century revival of English monastic life. He instituted the Benedictine Rule at Glastonbury and built new cloisters. Dunstan became [[Religion:Archbishop of Canterbury|Archbishop of Canterbury]] in 960. In 1184, a great fire at Glastonbury destroyed the monastic buildings. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, which includes the well, was consecrated in 1186.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cathedralsplus.org.uk/index.php/front_end/member/47/about.html|title=Glastonbury Abbey|work=Cathedrals Plus|publisher=The Pilgrims Association|access-date=19 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106074407/http://www.cathedralsplus.org.uk/index.php/front_end/member/47/about.html|archive-date=6 January 2009}}</ref>

The abbey had a violent end during the Dissolution and the buildings were progressively destroyed as their stones were removed for use in local building work. The remains of the Abbot's Kitchen (a grade I listed building.<ref>{{NHLE | desc=Abbot's Kitchen, Glastonbury Abbey | num=1172820 | access-date=11 November 2006 }}</ref>) and the Lady Chapel are particularly well-preserved set in {{convert|36|acre|m2}} of parkland. It is approached by the Abbey Gatehouse which was built in the mid-14th century and completely restored in 1810.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1345446|desc=Abbey Gatehouse, including the porters' lodge|access-date=18 August 2008 }}</ref>

There is also a strong Irish connection to Glastonbury as it is said to be along a route of pilgrimage from Ireland to Rome. It is supposed that St. Patrick and St. Brigid both came to the area and both Saints are documented by William of Malmesbury as having done so. There are Chapels named after them too - [[Religion:St. Patrick's Chapel, Glastonbury|St. Patrick's Chapel, Glastonbury]] is within the Abbey grounds and St. Brigid's Chapel is at Beckery (Little Ireland).

The Church of St Benedict was rebuilt by Abbot Richard Beere in about 1520.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1057966|desc=Church of St Benedict|access-date=20 August 2008 }}</ref> This is now an Anglican church and is linked with the parishes of St John's Church in Glastonbury and St Mary's & All Saints Church in the village of Meare as a joint benefice.<ref name="stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk">http://www.stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005124517/http://www.stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk/ |date=5 October 2015 }} (official church website)</ref>
[[File:St. John's Church, Glastonbury, Somerset, England arp.jpg|thumb|Church of St John the Baptist in the main street]] 
Described as "one of the most ambitious parish churches in Somerset",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-265926-church-of-st-john-the-baptist-glastonbury|title=Church of St John the Baptist|publisher=British Listed Buildings|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> the current Church of St John the Baptist dates from the 15th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/20585|title=Church of St John the Baptist, High Street (North side), Glastonbury|work=Somerset Historic Environment Record|publisher=Somerset County Council|access-date=18 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003094616/http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/20585|archive-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> The church is laid out in a cruciform plan with an aisled nave and a clerestorey of seven bays. The west tower has elaborate [[Engineering:Buttress|buttress]]ing, panelling and battlements and at 134½ feet (about 41 metres), is the second tallest parish church tower in Somerset.<ref name="stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk"/> Recent excavations in the nave have revealed the foundations of a large central tower, possibly of Saxon origin, and a later Norman nave arcade on the same plan as the existing one. A central tower survived until the 15th century, but is believed to have collapsed, at which time the church was rebuilt.<ref name="stjohns-glastonbury.org.uk"/> The interior of the church includes four 15th-century tomb-chests, some 15th-century [[Engineering:Stained glass|stained glass]] in the chancel, medieval vestments, and a domestic cupboard of about 1500 which was once at Witham Charterhouse.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1345459|desc=Church of St John the Baptist|access-date=18 May 2009 }}</ref>

In the centuries that followed the Reformation, many religious denominations came to Glastonbury to establish chapels and meeting houses. For such a relatively small town, Glastonbury has a remarkably diverse history of Christian places of worship, further enriched by the fact that several of these movements saw break-away factions, typically setting up new meeting places as a result of doctrinal disagreements, leaving behind them a legacy which would require a highly specialized degree of study in order to chart their respective histories and places of practice. Amongst their number have been Puritans/Undetermined Protestants, Quakers, Independents, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Salvationists, Plymouth Brethren, Jehovah's Witnesses and Pentecostals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol9/pp16-43|title=Glastonbury: Town|publisher=Victoria County History|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901212623/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol9/pp16-43|archive-date=1 September 2017}}</ref>

The United Reformed Church on the High Street was built in 1814 and altered in 1898. It stands on the site of the Ship Inn where meetings were held during the 18th century. It is Grade II listed.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Congregational Church|num=1057939|access-date=5 July 2010 }}</ref>

Glastonbury Methodist Church on Lambrook Street was built in 1843 and has a galleried interior, typical of a non-conformist chapel of that period, but an unusual number of stained glass windows. Close by the front of the church is an ancient pond, which was later covered to form a brick-arched reservoir. This is mentioned in property deeds of 1821, and is still accessible, containing approximately 31,500 gallons of water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://somersetmethodists.org/somerset_mendip_circuit_029.htm|title=Glastonbury|publisher=Somerset Methodists|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174428/http://somersetmethodists.org/somerset_mendip_circuit_029.htm|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

The Methodist Church on Lambrook street was originally the Glastonbury Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. A Primitive Methodist Chapel was built on Northload Street in 1844, with an adjoining house added for a minister in 1869.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/glastonbury_primitive_methodist_church|title=Glastonbury Primitive Methodist chapel|publisher=My Primitive Methodist Ancestors|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809052148/http://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/page/glastonbury_primitive_methodist_church|archive-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> This chapel was closed in 1968, since which time it has had a number of different uses, being described in 2007 as the Maitreya Monastery, prior to which it had been the Archangel Michael Soul Therapy Centre.<ref>Kemp, Darren and Lewis, James R: Handbook of New Age (2007)</ref>

The Bove Town Gospel Hall has been a place of worship in the town since at least 1889, when it was listed as a mission of the Plymouth Brethren.<ref>Kelly's Directory of Somerset, 1889</ref> Jehovah's Witnesses originally occupied a Kingdom Hall on Archer's Way from 1942. This transferred to Church Lane in 1964, and subsequently to its present site on Old Wells Road.<ref>A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 9, Glastonbury and Street. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 2006.</ref> The Gospel Hall was registered for the solemnizing of marriages in 1964<ref>London Gazette, 6 March 1964</ref>

The Catholic Church of Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury was built, on land near to the Abbey, in 1939. A statue based on a 14th-century metal seal was blessed in 1955 and crowned in 1965 restoring the Marian shrine that had been in the Abbey prior to the reformation.<ref>[http://www.glastonburyshrine.co.uk/Shrine/TourStMarys.php Tour St Marys – Glastonbury Shrine<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712112147/http://www.glastonburyshrine.co.uk/Shrine/TourStMarys.php |date=12 July 2012 }}</ref> The Shrine is now the home of the [https://glastonburymonastery.co.uk Community of Our Lady of Glastonbury], a Catholic Benedictine Monastery founded in August 2019.

The Glastonbury Order of Druids was formed on Mayday 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glastonburyorderofdruids.com/index.html |title=Homepage_of_the_glastonbury_order_of_druids |access-date=2015-12-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113015252/http://glastonburyorderofdruids.com/index.html |archive-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

[[Religion:Sufism|Sufism]] has been long established in Glastonbury. Zikrs are held weekly in private homes, and on the first Sunday of every month a zikr is held at St Margaret's Chapel in Magdalene Street. A Sufi charity shop was established in Glastonbury in 1999, and supports missionary work in Africa. This shop was opened after Sheikh Nazim came to Glastonbury to visit the Abbey. Here he declared, "This is the spiritual heart of England ... It is from here that the spiritual new age will begin and to here that Jesus will return".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.healing-hearts.co.uk/glastonbury.htm |title=Healing Hearts |access-date=2015-12-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223053909/http://www.healing-hearts.co.uk/glastonbury.htm |archive-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

The pagan Glastonbury Goddess Temple was founded in 2002 and registered as a place of worship the following year. It is self-described as the first temple of its kind to exist in Europe in over a thousand years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=81 |title=Goddesstemple.co.uk - About the temple |access-date=2010-09-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329011427/http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=81 |archive-date=29 March 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/subdivisions/goddess.shtml BBC - Religions - Paganism: The Goddess movement<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817025602/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/subdivisions/goddess.shtml |date=17 August 2010 }}</ref>

In April 2012, it was reported by The Guardian newspaper that, according to the Pilgrim Reception Centre in the town, Glastonbury had around seventy different faith groups. Some of these groups attended a special ceremony to celebrate this diversity, held in the Chalice Well Gardens on 21 April of that year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Liz|title=Glastonbury meditation is a homage to British inclusivity and goodwill|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/apr/14/glastonbury-meditation|access-date=22 December 2015|work=The Guardian|date=14 April 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223131157/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/apr/14/glastonbury-meditation|archive-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

The 22nd Jagannatha Ratha-yatra Krishna Festival took place in Glastonbury on Sunday 4 October 2015. Devotees of the Krishna Consciousness movement travelled to the town from London, Bath, Bristol and elsewhere to join with locals in a procession and Kirtan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harekrishnafestivals.com/calendar/ |title=Calendar &#124; Hare Krishna Festivals (UK) |access-date=2015-12-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223013644/http://www.harekrishnafestivals.com/calendar/ |archive-date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

Glastonbury also headquarters the British Orthodox Church which is independent Oriental Orthodox denomination since 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://britishorthodox.org/5330/joint-announcement-from-the-coptic-orthodox-church-in-the-united-kingdom-and-the-british-orthodox-church-of-the-british-isles/|title=Joint Announcement from the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and the British Orthodox Church of the British Isles, 5 October 2015|publisher=The British Orthodox Church|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731065403/http://britishorthodox.org/5330/joint-announcement-from-the-coptic-orthodox-church-in-the-united-kingdom-and-the-british-orthodox-church-of-the-british-isles/|archive-date=31 July 2017}}</ref>

Glastonbury has a particular significance for members of the [[Social:Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí Faith]] in that Wellesley Tudor Pole, founder of the Chalice Well Trust, was one of the earliest and most prominent adherents of this faith in the United Kingdom.

==Sports==
The local football team is Glastonbury F.C. They joined the Western Football League in 1919 and have won the Western Football League title three times in their history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Premier Division Champions|url=http://www.toolstationleague.com/history.php|publisher=Western League|access-date=28 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627055741/http://www.toolstationleague.com/history.php|archive-date=27 June 2017}}</ref> The club are now playing in the Somerset County Football League.<ref>{{cite web|title=Errea Somerset County League|url=http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?leagueid=3894227|publisher=Football Association|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424003615/http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?leagueid=3894227|archive-date=24 April 2010}}</ref>

Glastonbury Cricket Club previously competed in the West of England Premier League, one of the ECB Premier Leagues, the highest level of recreational cricket in England and Wales.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury CC|url=http://glastonbury.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp|publisher=Play Cricket|access-date=4 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711105913/http://glastonbury.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp|archive-date=11 July 2012}}</ref> The club plays at the Tor Leisure Ground, which used to stage Somerset County Cricket Club first-class fixtures.

The town is on the route of the Samaritans Way South West.

==Culture==
In a 1904 novel by Charles Whistler entitled ''A Prince of Cornwall'' Glastonbury in the days of Ine of Wessex is portrayed. It is also a setting in the Warlord Chronicles, a trilogy of books about Arthurian [[History:Sub-Roman Britain|Britain]] written by Bernard Cornwell.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704586504574654820985883120|title=The Burning Land|last=Shippey|first=Tom|date=16 January 2010|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=6 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707135801/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704586504574654820985883120|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Modern fiction has also used Glastonbury as a setting including The Age of Misrule series of books by Mark Chadbourn in which the Watchmen appear, a group selected from Anglican priests in and around Glastonbury to safeguard knowledge of a gate to the Otherworld on top of Glastonbury Tor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omnivoracious.com/2009/07/mark-chadbourn-guest-post-on-the-age-of-misrule-series-the-invisible-hand-of-the-gods-of-writing.html|title=Mark Chadbourn Guest Post on the Age of Misrule Series: "The Invisible Hand of the Gods of Writing"|last=VanderMeer|first=Jeff|publisher=Omnivoracious|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718174140/http://www.omnivoracious.com/2009/07/mark-chadbourn-guest-post-on-the-age-of-misrule-series-the-invisible-hand-of-the-gods-of-writing.html|archive-date=18 July 2011|url-status=live|access-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> [[Biography:John Cowper Powys|John Cowper Powys]]'s novel ''A Glastonbury Romance'' is set in Glastonbury and is concerned with the Grail. The historical mystery novel ''Grave Goods'' by Diana Norman (writing under the pen name Ariana Frankin) is set in Glastonbury just after the abbey fire and concerns the supposed graves of Arthur and Guinevere, as well as featuring other landmarks such as the Tor.

The Children's World charity grew out of the festival and is based in the town. It is known internationally (as ''Children's World International''). It was set up by Arabella Churchill in 1981 to provide drama participation and creative play and to work creatively in educational settings, providing social and emotional benefits for all children, particularly those with special needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.childrensworldcharity.org/|title=The Children's World Charity|publisher=The Children's World Charity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623051328/http://www.childrensworldcharity.org/|archive-date=23 June 2010|url-status=live|access-date=6 July 2010}}</ref> Children's World International is the sister charity of Children's World and was started in 1999 to work with children in the Balkans, in conjunction with Balkan Sunflowers and Save the Children. They also run the Glastonbury Children's Festival each August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.childrensworldcharity.org/festivals/festivals.php|title=Glastonbury Children's Festival|publisher=Children's World Charity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628122322/http://www.childrensworldcharity.org/festivals/festivals.php|archive-date=28 June 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=6 July 2010}}</ref>

The local Brass Band is [https://glastonburybrass.webnode.page/ Glastonbury Brass] which is currently placed in the first section for the West of England area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grading Tables {{!}} WEBBA |url=https://www.webba.org.uk/grading.html |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=www.webba.org.uk}}</ref> The band was founded in 2017 when the old Yeovil Town Band relocated after running into financial difficulty following a "notice to quit" on its rehearsal facility in September 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glastonbury Brass is Born |url=https://www.all4brass.com/2017/10/30/glastonbury-brass-is-born/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=All4Brass: Brass Band News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The band is featured twice on the Haiku Salut album ''There Is No Elsewhere'' (2018) and can be heard on the tracks ''Cold To Crack The Stones'' and ''The More And Moreness.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newsdesk |first=The Hot Press |title=Haiku Salut Release New Single Featuring NASA Recordings And Announce New Album |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/haiku-salut-release-new-single-featuring-nasa-recordings-and-announce-new-album-22581593 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Hotpress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Kevin |title=Haiku Salut There Is No Elsewhere {{!}} Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/haiku_salut-there_is_no_elsewhere |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=exclaim.ca}}</ref> In February 2020, the band was involved in the launch of Johnny Mars's "Dare to Dream" project aimed at raising awareness of the effects mankind is having on the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Dare to Dream' Music Event – Glastonbury Town Council |url=https://glastonbury.gov.uk/2020/01/06/dare-to-dream-music-event/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=glastonbury.gov.uk}}</ref>

Glastonbury is the final venue for the annual November West Country Carnival.

=== Hippie culture ===
Glastonbury has been described as a [[Unsolved:New Age communities|New Age community]] where communities have grown up to include people with [[Philosophy:New Age|New Age]] beliefs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Craig|first=David|title=Capital of the New Age|url=http://www.strum.co.uk/twilight/glas0.htm|publisher=Strum|access-date=6 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624223756/http://www.strum.co.uk/twilight/glas0.htm|archive-date=24 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Tim|title=A brief history of Glastonbury, Somerset|url=http://www.localhistories.org/glastonbury.html|publisher=Tim Lambert|access-date=6 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921191240/http://localhistories.org/glastonbury.html|archive-date=21 September 2010}}</ref>

=== Glastonbury Festival ===

The more recent Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts, founded in 1970, is now the largest open-air music and performing arts festival in the world. Although it is named after Glastonbury, it is actually held at Worthy Farm between the small villages of Pilton and Pylle, {{convert|6|mi|km}} east of the town of Glastonbury.<ref>{{cite web|title=An introduction to Glastonbury Festival |url=http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/what-is-glastonbury/ |publisher=Glastonbury Festival |access-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707103219/http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/what-is-glastonbury |archive-date= 7 July 2010}}</ref> The festival is best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. For 2005, the enclosed area of the festival was over {{convert|900|acre|km2}}, had over 385 live performances and was attended by around 150,000 people. In 2007, over 700 acts played on over 80 stages<ref>{{cite news|last=Crerar|first=Simon|title=Rainswept Glastonbury squelches to life|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/festivals/article1972005.ece|access-date=6 July 2010|newspaper=The Times|date=22 June 2007|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517083137/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/festivals/article1972005.ece|archive-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> and the capacity expanded by 20,000 to 177,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury Festival&nbsp;– Extra Glastonbury Tickets Snapped Up|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/extra-glastonbury-tickets-snapped-up_1028793|publisher=contactmusic.com|access-date=6 July 2010|date=22 April 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330220420/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/extra-glastonbury-tickets-snapped-up_1028793|archive-date=30 March 2010}}</ref> The festival has spawned a range of other work including the 1972 film ''Glastonbury Fayre''<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury Fayre|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810001/|publisher=IMDB|access-date=6 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318062338/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810001/|archive-date=18 March 2012}}</ref> and album, 1996 film ''Glastonbury the Movie''<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury the movie|url=http://www.glastonburythemovie.com/|publisher=Glastonbury the movie|access-date=6 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103195157/http://www.glastonburythemovie.com/|archive-date=3 January 2010}}</ref> and the 2005 DVD ''Glastonbury Anthems''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury Anthems |url=http://www.glastonburyanthems.com/ |publisher=Glastonbury Anthems |access-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909012135/http://www.glastonburyanthems.com/ |archive-date= 9 September 2010 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
Glastonbury has been the birthplace or home to many notable people. Peter King, 1st Baron King was the recorder of Glastonbury in 1705.<ref>{{cite web|title=Day Two picture|url=http://www.bhandl.co.uk/sales/assets/FS/2009/01/28/FS280109-pictures.pdf|publisher=Bearnes, Hampton & Littlewood|access-date=15 February 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523215048/http://www.bhandl.co.uk/sales/assets/FS/2009/01/28/FS280109-pictures.pdf|archive-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> Thomas Bramwell Welch the discoverer of the pasteurisation process to prevent the fermentation of [[Biology:Grape juice|grape juice]] was born in Glastonbury in 1825.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas B. Welch|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/974/000165479/|publisher=NNDB|access-date=6 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508115808/http://www.nndb.com/people/974/000165479/|archive-date=8 May 2012}}</ref> The judge John Creighton represented Lunenburg County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1770 to 1775.<ref>{{cite DCB |first=J. Murray |last=Beck |title=Creighton, John (1721-1807) |volume=5 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/creighton_john_1721_1807_5E.html |access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref> The [[Biology:Fossil|fossil]] collector Thomas Hawkins lived in the town during the 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0016-7878(03)80015-9|last=O'Connor|first=Ralph|title=Thomas Hawkins and geological spectacle|journal=Proceedings of the Geologists' Association|year=2003|volume=114|issue=3|pages=227–241|bibcode=2003PrGA..114..227O }}</ref>

The religious connections and mythology of the town have also attracted notable authors. The occultist and writer Dion Fortune (Violet Mary Firth) lived and is buried in Glastonbury.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dion Fortune|url=http://www.glastonbury-pilgrim.co.uk/dion-fortune.php|publisher=Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre|access-date=4 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222153519/http://www.glastonbury-pilgrim.co.uk/dion-fortune.php|archive-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> Her old house was home to the writer and historian Geoffrey Ashe, who was known for his works on local legends. [[Biography:Frederick Bligh Bond|Frederick Bligh Bond]], archaeologist and writer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glastonbury Abbey Celebrates The Antiquarian Frederick Bligh Bond|url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%2526+heritage/art58399|publisher=Culture 24|access-date=4 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013025053/http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%26+heritage/art58399|archive-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> [[Biography:Eckhart Tolle|Eckhart Tolle]], a German-born writer, public speaker, and spiritual teacher lived in Glastonbury during the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eckhart Tolle Biographical Info|url=http://www.inner-growth.info/power_of_now_tolle/eckhart_tolle_teleg_mag.htm|work=Telegraph Magazine|publisher=Inner Growth|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813015842/http://www.inner-growth.info/power_of_now_tolle/eckhart_tolle_teleg_mag.htm|archive-date=13 August 2010}}</ref> [[Biography:Eileen Caddy|Eileen Caddy]] was at a sanctuary in Glastonbury when she first claimed to have heard the "voice of God" while meditating. Her subsequent instructions from the "voice" directed her to take on Sheena Govan as her spiritual teacher,<ref>[http://livingnewstories.com/stories/housing-intentional-living/landscaping-gardening/interview-with-dorothy-maclean An Interview with Dorothy Mclean] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825185427/http://livingnewstories.com/stories/housing-intentional-living/landscaping-gardening/interview-with-dorothy-maclean |date=25 August 2009 }}. livingnewstories.com, 6 May 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article758273.ece Unconventional spiritualist who helped to found Findhorn, the 'Vatican of the New Aage', in northeast Scotland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604100133/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article758273.ece |date=4 June 2011 }} ''The Times, 20 December 2006.</ref><ref name=ind>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/eileen-caddy-430826.html Eileen and Peter, by then parents to two sons, had moved to Scotland to be part of a little community in which Sheena was spiritual queen..] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625053138/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/eileen-caddy-430826.html |date=25 June 2017 }} ''The Independent'', 5 January 2007.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/jan/08/guardianobituaries.religion Obituary&nbsp;– Eileen Caddy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306145454/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/jan/08/guardianobituaries.religion |date=6 March 2016 }} ''{{wipe|The Guardian}} '', 8 January 2007.</ref> and became a spiritual teacher and new age author, best known as one of the founders of the Findhorn Foundation community.

Popular entertainment and literature is also represented amongst the population. English composer Rutland Boughton moved from Birmingham to Glastonbury in 1911 and established the country's first national annual summer school of music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Profile|url=http://www.rutlandboughtonmusictrust.org.uk/cgi-bin/newslist.cgi?area=news&storycode=../public_html/news/maint/data/profile.txt|publisher=The Rutland Boughton Music Trust|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911163606/http://www.rutlandboughtonmusictrust.org.uk/cgi-bin/newslist.cgi?area=news&storycode=../public_html/news/maint/data/profile.txt|archive-date=11 September 2012}}</ref> Gary Stringer, lead singer of rock band Reef, was a local along with other members of the band.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Darrington|first1=Peter|title=The 10 best Reef songs as chosen by Gary Stringer|date=6 August 2015 |url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2015-08-06/the-10-best-reef-songs-as-chosen-by-gary-stringer|publisher=Team Rock|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232418/http://teamrock.com/feature/2015-08-06/the-10-best-reef-songs-as-chosen-by-gary-stringer|url-status=live}}</ref> The juggler Haggis McLeod and his late wife, Arabella Churchill, one of the founders of the Glastonbury Festival, lived in the town.<ref>{{cite news|last=Howard-Gordon|first=Frances|title=Arabella Churchill|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/dec/22/music.obituaries|access-date=6 June 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=22 December 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006120055/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/dec/22/music.obituaries|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> The conductor Charles Hazlewood lives locally and hosts the "Play the Field" music festival on his farm nearby.<ref>{{cite web|title=Play the Field|url=http://www.playthefield.co.uk/|publisher=Play the Field|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704192606/http://www.playthefield.co.uk/|archive-date=4 July 2011}}</ref> Bill Bunbury moved on from Glastonbury to become a writer, radio broadcaster, and producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.<ref>{{cite news |first=Errol |last=Simper |title=RN's quiet achiever brought the past to life|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/rns-quiet-achiever-brought-the-past-to-life/story-e6frg9af-1111113198719 |work=The Australian |date=22 March 2007 |page=18|access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref>

Athletes and sports players from Glastonbury include cricketers Cyril Baily in 1880,<ref>{{cite web|title=Cyril Baily|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3413/3413.html|publisher=Cricket Archive|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611043544/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3413/3413.html|archive-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> George Burrough in 1907,<ref>{{cite web|title=George Burrough|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Somerset/Players/3/3470/3470.html|publisher=Somerset Cricket Club|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022114100/http://cricketarchive.com/Somerset/Players/3/3470/3470.html|archive-date=22 October 2012}}</ref> and Eustace Bisgood in 1878.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eustace Bisgood|url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3442/3442.html|publisher=Cricket Archive|access-date=5 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611045732/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3442/3442.html|archive-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> The footballer Peter Spiring was born in Glastonbury in 1950.<ref>{{cite web|title=Peter Spiring|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/past-players/peter-spiring|publisher=Liverpool FC|access-date=22 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612064222/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/past-players/peter-spiring|archive-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> Formula 1 driver Lando Norris grew up in Glastonbury.

==Twin towns==
Glastonbury is twinned with:
*{{flagicon|FRA}} Bretenoux, France<ref name="Archant twinning 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|title=British towns twinned with French towns ''[via WaybackMachine.com]''|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-date=5 July 2013|work=Archant Community Media Ltd}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Religion:Patmos|Patmos]], Greece.<ref>{{cite web|title=Twinning|url=http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/twinning.html|publisher=Glastonbury Town Council|access-date=27 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205004544/http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/twinning.html|archive-date=5 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Patmos|url=http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/patmos.html|publisher=Glastonbury Town Council|access-date=27 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205004653/http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/patmos.html|archive-date=5 December 2014}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ETH}} Lalibela, Ethiopia

==Freedom of the Town==
The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Town of Glastonbury.
 
{{Incomplete list|date=May 2022}}

===Individuals===
* Michael Eavis: 3 May 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis on getting the Freedom of the town |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-05-04/can-i-park-for-free-michael-eavis-on-getting-freedom-of-glastonbury |website=ITV News West Country |date=4 May 2022 |access-date=8 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The founder of the world-famous Glastonbury Festival has been made a Freeman of Glastonbury. Born in 1935, the celebrated dairy farmer held his first Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton in 1970.  52 years later, Mr. Eavis has been listed by ''Time'' magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Eavis honoured with Freedom of Glastonbury – Glastonbury Town Council |url=https://glastonbury.gov.uk/2022/03/28/michael-eavis-honoured-with-freedom-of-glastonbury/ |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=glastonbury.gov.uk}}</ref>

== The Key of Avalon ==
This award was created in 2022 by the Glastonbury Town Council. The first recipient was Prem Rawat, international peace advocate and author, who spoke at the Glastonbury Festival in 1971.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=Prem Rawat gets Glastonbury Council honour for humanitarian service |url=https://www.indianstar.news/prem-rawat-gets-glastonbury-council-honour-for-humanitarian-service/ |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=★ Indian Star}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
*Geoffrey Ashe, ''King Arthur's Avalon: The Story of Glastonbury'', 1957

==External links==
*{{curlie|/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Somerset/Glastonbury/|Glastonbury}}
* [http://www.glastonbury.gov.uk/ Official town council and community website]



[[Category:Pseudohistory]]

{{Sourceattribution|Glastonbury}}