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Glastonbury Abbey
archaeological investigations 1904–79
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‘Fate … led me to … the hot-bed of Glastonbury, where myth
and fact had become inextricably entangled’
Philip Rahtz, 1921–2011 (Living Archaeology2001, 88)
This project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research
Council (2009–13), following a pilot project funded by the
British Academy (2007–8). Additional funding was provided
by Linda Witherill, the University of Reading, the Society for
Medieval Archaeology and the Maltwood Fund of the
Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. We are
grateful to all of them for their generous financial support.
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Glastonbury Abbey
archaeological investigations 1904–7 9
Roberta Gilchrist, FSA, and Cheryl Green
with contributions from John Allan, FSA, Ron Baxter, FSA, Stuart Black, †Paul Courtney, FSA, C Pamela Graves, FSA,
Jane Harcourt, Elizabeth Gardner, Jerry Sampson, FSA, Claire Stephens, Hugh Willmott, FSA, and Kate Welham
and reports on finds by Phil Andrews, FSA, Katherine Barclay, FSA, R Barnett, Hugo Blake, FSA, Chris Caple, FSA, Dana
Challinor, John Cherry, FSA, David Dawson, FSA, Jennifer Durrant, Hella Eckardt, FSA, †Geoff Egan, FSA, Alejandra
Gutiérrez, Lorrain Higbee, David A Higgins, Michael J Hughes, FSA, Oliver Kent, Peter Marshall, Ray McBride, Elaine
Morris, FSA, Tim Phillips, Roger T Taylor and Jane Timby, FSA
The Society of Antiquaries of London
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First published 2015 by Editorial project management: Christopher Catling, FSA, and
the Society of Antiquaries of London Kate Owen, FSA
Burlington House Copy-editing: Christopher Catling, FSA
Piccadilly Proofreading: Sarah Kane
London W1J 0BE Index: Sue Vaughan
Original series design: Tracy Wellman
www.sal.org.uk Design and layout: Sue Cawood
Printing and binding: Albe De Coker nv
© The Society of Antiquaries of London 2015
All illustrations copyright Elizabeth Gardner unless specified
otherwise in the figure captions Contributors
ISBN: 978 0 85431 300 6 Steering Committee 2007–8: John Allan, Matthew Clements,
Vicky Dawson, Robert Dunning
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data 2009–13: John Allan, Janet Bell, Peter
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the Saunders
British Library. Principal authors Roberta Gilchrist and Cheryl Green
Animal bone Lorrain Higbee
The moral rights of Roberta Gilchrist, Cheryl Green, John Bayesian analysis Peter Marshall
Allan, Ron Baxter, Stuart Black, †Paul Courtney, C Pamela Ceramic tile Jane Harcourt and Jennifer Durrant
Graves, Jane Harcourt, Elizabeth Gardner, Jerry Sampson, Chemical analysis Roger T Taylor and Michael J Hughes
Claire Stephens, Hugh Willmott, Kate Welham, Phil Andrews, Clay pipes David A Higgins
Katherine Barclay, R Barnett, Hugo Blake, Chris Caple, Dana Finds curation Janet Bell
Challinor, John Cherry, David Dawson, Jennifer Durrant, Geophysics Claire Stephens
Hella Eckardt, †Geoff Egan, Alejandra Gutiérrez, Lorrain Glass vessels Hugh Willmott
Higbee, David A Higgins, Michael J Hughes, Oliver Kent, Peter Illustrations Elizabeth Gardner
Marshall, Ray McBride, Elaine Morris, Tim Phillips, Roger T Integrated Mike Rains
Taylor and Jane Timby to be identified as the authors of this Archaeological
work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Database
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Lithics Tim Phillips
Metal residues Stuart Black and Phil Andrews
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under current Painted wall-plaster Chris Caple and C Pamela Graves
legislation, no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in Pottery John Allan, Katherine Barclay, Hugo
a retrieval system, published, performed in public, adapted, Blake, David Dawson, Alejandra
broadcast, transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or Gutiérrez, Oliver Kent, Ray McBride,
by any means without the prior permission of the copyright Elaine Morris and Jane Timby
owner. Saxon glass Hugh Willmott and Kate Welham
Small finds John Cherry, †Paul Courtney, Hella
Cover illustrations: Eckardt, †Geoff Egan and Roberta
(front) Glastonbury Abbey viewed through the Galilee arch Gilchrist
towards the crossing of the Great Church with Abbey House in Stained glass C Pamela Graves, Chris Caple and
the distance (© Mick Sharp) R Barnett
(back) The Lady Chapel, Galilee and Great Church, looking Wood and charcoal Dana Challinor
east-north-east (© Cheryl Green) Worked stone Ron Baxter and Jerry Sampson
The full Glastonbury Abbey Archaeological Archive Project
can be consulted via the website of the Archaeology Data
Service: http://dx.doi.org/10.5284/1022585
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Contents
Figures and tables vii
Preface and acknowledgements xii
Summary xiii
Phasing and figure conventions xxi
Chapter 1
Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey Roberta Gilchrist 1
Chapter 2
Methodology and geophysical survey Cheryl Green, with a contribution from
Claire Stephens 20
Chapter 3
A sense of place: history, buildings and landscape Roberta Gilchrist 51
Chapter 4
The cemetery and church Cheryl Green and Roberta Gilchrist 80
Chapter 5
The cloister Cheryl Green and Roberta Gilchrist, with a contribution from Peter Marshall 124
Chapter 6
The inner court and precinct Cheryl Green and Roberta Gilchrist 189
Chapter 7
The Saxon glass furnaces Hugh Willmott and Kate Welham 218
Chapter 8
The finds Edited by Roberta Gilchrist 239
Prehistoric lithics: Tim Phillips 239
Prehistoric pottery:Elaine L Morris 241
Roman pottery:Jane Timby 243
Roman tile: Jennifer Durrant, with a contribution from Roger T Taylor 246
Roman small finds: Hella Eckardt 248
Post-Roman pottery: John Allan, David Dawson and Oliver Kent, with contributions
from Katherine Barclay, Hugo Blake, Alejandra Guitérrez, Michael J Hughes,
R McBride, Roger T Taylor and Jane Timby 250
Medieval floor tiles: Jane Harcourt, with contributions from Michael J Hughes
and Roger T Taylor 278
Small finds: †Paul Courtney, †Geoff Egan and Roberta Gilchrist, with a contribution
from John Cherry 293
Vessel glass: Hugh Willmott 311
Slag and metal residue samples: Stuart Black, with a contribution from Phil Andrews 313
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Stained and painted window glass: C Pamela Graves, with contributions from
Chris Caple and R Barnett 320
Ex situpainted wall-plaster: Chris Caple, with a contribution from C Pamela Graves 337
Clay tobacco pipes: David A Higgins 340
Animal bone: Lorrain Higbee 342
Wood and charcoal: Dana Challinor 345
Chapter 9
The medieval worked stone assemblage 347
Romanesque carved stones: Ron Baxter 347
Gothic sculpture and worked stone: Jerry Sampson 358
Chapter 10
Chronological summary Roberta Gilchrist and Cheryl Green 383
Chapter 11 Conclusions Roberta Gilchrist 415
Appendices
Appendix 1 Concordance of Radford’s excavations Cheryl Green 436
Appendix 2 Concordance of Wedlake’s excavations Cheryl Green 442
Appendix 3 Concordance of 1908–39 excavations Cheryl Green 444
Notes 450
Abbreviations and bibliography 466
Index 487
Plans 494
1 Phased Saxon plan 495
2 Late eleventh-century plan 496
3 Phased twelfth-century plan 497
4 Phased medieval plan 499
5 Phased post-Dissolution plan with early twentieth-century postcards 500
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Figures and tables
Figures Chapter 3
Fig3.1 Glastonbury Abbey seting and topography 52
Chapter 1 Fig3.2 Glastonbury Tor 53
Fig1.1 Antiquarian excavators at Glastonbury Abbey Fig3.3 Glastonbury Abbey’s setting 55
1904–79: St John Hope, Peers, Clapham and Fig3.4 Lead cross allegedly found in ‘Arthur’s grave’ 61
Horne 2 Fig3.5 Late Saxon ‘pyramids’ 61
Fig1.2 Plan of excavations 1904–79 5 Fig3.6 The Lady Chapel, Galilee and Great Church 65
Fig1.3 Plan of Glastonbury Abbey showing key features Fig3.7 The Lady Chapel 66
discussed in Chapter 1 8 Fig3.8 Axonometric drawing with church phases 68
Fig1.4 Excavation trenches by St John Hope, 1904 10 Fig3.9 The abbot’s kitchen 69
Fig1.5 Excavation trenches by Bond, 1908–22 11 Fig3.10 Glastonbury Abbey key features 70
Fig1.6 Excavation trenches by Fyfe, 1926–7 13 Fig3.11 Glastonbury Abbey zones and key features of
Fig1.7 Excavation trenches by Peers, Clapham and inner and outer courts 71
Horne, 1928–39 14 Fig3.12 The porch and staircase at the south-west corner
Fig1.8 Excavation trenches by Radford, 1951–64 16 of the abbot’s hall 73
Fig1.9 Excavation trenches by Wedlake, 1978–9 18 Fig3.13 The north precinct wall with evidence for a
massive building 74
Chapter 2 Fig3.14 Stukeley 1724 eastern aspect 75
Fig2.1 Bond’s 1909 plan of the cloister excavations 22 Fig3.15 Stukeley 1724 southern aspect 75
Fig2.2 Isometric drawing, 1926 22 Fig3.16 The refectory and dormitory undercrofts,
Fig2.3 Isometric drawing, 1926 23 reredorter and the cider house in 1935 76
Fig2.4 Plan of Radford’s excavation trenches by year 25
Fig2.5 Excavation records for ‘1956 CL2’ 27 Chapter 4
Fig2.6 Plan of Glastonbury Abbey, Bond 1913 28 Fig4.1 Plan of phased archaeology across cemeteries
Fig2.7 Screenshot from IADB showing linked records and church west ends 81
for ‘1956 CL2’ 29 Fig4.2 Plan of phased archaeology across church east ends 82
Fig2.8 Plan showing parchmarks and earthworks 31 Fig4.3 Plan and section of Trench 16 84
Fig2.9 Magnetic data: colour plot 33 Fig4.4 ‘St David’s Pillar’ 85
Fig2.10 Resistance data (filtered): greyscale plot 35 Fig4.5 Wall to north of the Lady Chapel 85
Fig2.11 GPR data (migrated and filtered): timeslice Fig4.6 Sections of Trench 89 87
0.0m–0.5m 37 Fig4.7 Plan of Trenches 89, 90 and 104; section of
Fig2.12 GPR data (migrated and filtered): timeslice Trench 104 88
0.5m–1.0m 38 Fig4.8 Sections of Trenches 20 and 21 89
Fig2.13 GPR data (migrated and filtered): timeslice Fig4.9 Plan of Trenches 6, 9, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 88 90
1.0m–1.5m 39 Fig4.10 Section of Trench 19 91
Fig2.14 GPR data (migrated and filtered): timeslice Fig4.11 Burial chamber and earlier walls beyond 92
1.5m–2.0m 40 Fig4.12 Burial chamber 92
Fig2.15 GPR data (migrated and filtered):timeslice Fig4.13 Burial chamber 93
2.0m–2.5m 41 Fig4.14 East end of burial chamber 93
Fig2.16 Magnetic data: interpretation 42 Fig4.15 Cist graves 95
Fig2.17 Resistance data: interpretation 43 Fig4.16 Skeleton in cist grave 95
Fig2.18 GPR data: interpretation: timeslice 0.0m–0.5m 44 Fig4.17 Section of Trench 22 98
Fig2.19 GPR data: interpretation: timeslice 0.5m–1.0m 45 Fig4.18 St Michael’s Chapel and crypt 99
Fig2.20 GPR data: interpretation: timeslice 1.0m–1.5m 46 Fig4.19 Crypt of St Michael’s Chapel 99
Fig2.21 GPR data: interpretation: timeslice 1.5m–2.0m 47 Fig4.20 Saxon church excavations 100
Fig2.22 GPR data: interpretation: timeslice 2.0m–2.5m 48 Fig4.21 Remains at west end of nave 101
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Fig4.22 Flooring and walls 101 (C) Combination of radiocarbon dates from
Fig4.23 Coffin with cover stone removed 103 Glastonbury Abbey using the OxCal Combine
Fig4.24 Stone coffin 103 function 144
Fig4.25 Emptied stone coffin 103 Fig5.21 Radiocarbon results from Glastonbury Abbey
Fig4.26 Walls to the east of the tower 103 plotted on the IntCal13 calibration curve 146
Fig4.27 Stone-lined receptacle 104 Fig5.22 Section of Trench 38 148
Fig4.28 Sections of Trenches 26 and 83 106 Fig5.23 Plan and section of Trench 62 149
Fig4.29 Plan of Trenches 26 and 83 107 Fig5.24 ?Saxon wall with plaster deposit in Trench 4 150
Fig4.30 South-west corner of nave 108 Fig5.25 Section of Trench 9 151
Fig4.31 Nave and south aisle foundations 108 Fig5.26 ?Saxon paving above post-pit with drain in
Fig4.32 Nave trench 108 Trench 6 152
Fig4.33 Stone-lined tomb in nave 110 Fig5.27 Foundation, paving and ?wall in Trench 45 153
Fig4.34 Skeleton in stone-lined tomb 110 Fig5.28 Section of Trench 38 155
Fig4.35 Section of Trench 47 112 Fig 5.29 North-east corner of cloister in Trenches 38
Fig4.36 Section of Trench 46 113 and 40 156
Fig4.37 Plan of Trenches 43, 44, 46 and 47 114 Fig5.30 Drain, post-pits, mortar bedding and paving in
Fig4.38 North side of ?apsidal chapel 115 Trench 13 156
Fig4.39 North side of ?apsidal chapel 115 Fig5.31 Drain and paving above mortar bed in Trench 13 157
Fig4.40 Burial shown with buckles 116 Fig5.32 Walls and paving in Trench 70 158
Fig4.41 Grave in south trench 117 Fig5.33 Section of Trench 70 159
Fig4.42 Sections of Trenches 27 and 28 119 Fig5.34 Plan of Trenches 11, 12, 70 and 71 160
Fig4.43 Plan of Trenches 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 120 Fig5.35 Plan of Trenches 24, 35/57, 41, 45, 66 and 67 and
Fig4.44 Sections of Trenches 32 and 33 121 section of Trench 66 162
Fig5.36 North-east corner of cloister in Trenches 38 and 39 163
Chapter 5 Fig5.37 Sections of Trenches 25 and 58 164
Fig5.1 Plan of phased archaeology across the cloister 125 Fig5.38 Structural remains in Trenches 35 and 41 167
Fig5.2 Plan of Trenches 6, 9, 13, 14, 15, 24 and 34 127 Fig5.39 North-east corner of cloister in Trenches 38 and 39 168
Fig5.3 Sections of Trench 6 128 Fig5.40 Section of Trench 48 171
Fig5.4 Post-pits beneath mortar in Trench 13 129 Fig5.41 Plan of Trenches 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 172
Fig5.5 Post-pit beneath twelfth-century paving in Fig5.42 Sections of Trenches 50, 51, 52 and 55 174
Trench 6 129 Fig5.43 Plan of Wedlake’s 1935 chapter house excavations 176
Fig5.6 Section of Trench 24 130 Fig5.44 Section of Trench 72 177
Fig5.7 Plan of Trenches 24, 25, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 57, Fig5.45 Chapter house excavations 178
58, 59 and 66 132 Fig5.46 Trenches 72 and 73 179
Fig5.8 Section of Trench 24 134 Fig5.47 Industrial surfaces in Trench 73 180
Fig5.9 Section of Trench 35 135 Fig5.48 Plan of Trenches 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 84, 85, 86 and 87 181
Fig5.10 Section of Trench 35 136 Fig5.49 Plan of Trenches 74, 79, 80, 81 and 82 and section
Fig5.11 Furnace 3 and Saxon wall in Trench 57 137 of Trench 81 182
Fig5.12 Furnace 3 in Trench 57 137 Fig5.50 Section of Trench 80 184
Fig5.13 Furnace 3 and Saxon walls in Trenches 57 and 59 138 Fig5.51 ?Robbed central pier in Trench 72 185
Fig5.14 Excavation of Furnace 3 in Trenches 57 and 59 138 Fig5.52 Two drains to E of dormitory Trench 72 186
Fig5.15 Sections of Trench 57 139 Fig5.53 Two drains and rubble wall Trench 72 187
Fig5.16 Section of Trench 41 140
Fig5.17 Section of Trench 8 141 Chapter 6
Fig5.18 Plan of Trenches 49, 61, 64 and 68 and sections Fig6.1 Plan of phased archaeology across the abbot’s range 191
of Trenches 64 and 65 142 Fig6.2 Possible Saxon remains 192
Fig5.19 Trenches 64 and 65 143 Fig6.3 Possible Late Saxon foundation 192
Fig5.20 (A) Probability distributions of dates from glass- Fig6.4 Section of Trench 88 193
working activity at Glastonbury Abbey; Fig6.5 Plan of Trench 88 194
(B) Summary of main historical and archaeological Fig6.6 1979 Trenches, Sections 89 and 100 195
dates relating to Glastonbury Abbey; Fig6.7 Numbered sections for the 1978–9 trenches 196
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