Glastonbury Abbey was founded in the 600's AD but was first destroyed by a fire in 1184. It was rebuilt but was again destroyed under the dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII and the current abbot, Richard Whiting was hanged, drawn, and quartered as a traitor in 1539 on Glastonbury Tor. From at least the 1100's, Glastonbury has been associated with the legend of King Arthur and was promoted by medieval monks who said that Glastonbury was Avalon. Christian legend states that Glastonbury Abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. In 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery brought in pilgrim visits to the Abbey.

While at Glastonbury, I wanted to visit the Chalice Well which was about a 20 minute walk from the Abbey. It was not part of the tour, but I read about it in Rick Steves' guidebook and wanted to see it. The well has been in constant use for 2000 years. 250,000 gallons flow from the well every day and it has never gone dry. Iron oxide deposits give the water a reddish hue. It is believed the waters have healing powers. It is suggested that the Chalice Well marks the site where Joseph of Arimathea placed the chalice that had caught the drops of Christ's blood at the Crucifixion, linking the Well to the existence of the Holy Grail.

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Click on image below for expanded view.