Glastonbury

Nearby, just into the High Street, there is another building of similar antiquity, the Tribunal. It dates from the early 15th century and is so- called because it was thought to be the courthouse of the Abbots. In fact the earliest use of the name was only in 1791 and the place is now considered to have begun merely as the house of a wealthy local merchant. It was later used by the infamous Judge Jeffreys when he was trying support- ers of the Duke of Monmouth after the failure of the Duke’s rebellion. The origi- nal timber front was replaced with stone around 1500. This is an interesting pre- Museum shot, with the building showing signs of dereliction in the windows and roof. The emblems over the door are the Tudor Rose and the Tudor Royal Arms.
An extract from from"Glastonbury Photographic Memories".

The town was laid out north and west of the Abbey precincts, with the Market Place at the junction of High, Magdalen, Benedict and North Load Streets. Much of its life was tied to the pilgrim trade: the George and Pilgrim Hotel was built by the abbey in the 15th century to cater for pilgrims, a splendid survival. The market cross of 1846 echoes that of Shepton Mallet’s medieval parts, and replaced one similar to that in Somerton. The Abbey gatehouse is out of view to the right.
An extract from from"Somerset Photographic Memories".

A closer view of the transept. A seat has appeared in the intervening six years since 23910 was taken - it and the steps beside it have gone today, the latter replaced by a shallow bank of earth as before, and now gone. Comparison of this view with that seen today shows that some features have been restored inside the arch of the second sto- rey of the left-hand wall.
An extract from from"Glastonbury Photographic Memories".

Beside the ruins of the great abbey church, various monastery buildings survive, including the famous 14th-century Abbot’s Kitchen and the Abbey Barn. This splendid six-bay stone building has the symbols of the Four Evangelists in the gables and wagon porches. It was built for Abbot Bere around 1500, and is now a rural life museum.
An extract from from"Somerset Photographic Memories".

East of the town and the Abbey, Glastonbury Tor rises abruptly to 525 feet above sea level from the ‘island’ above the Moors on which Glastonbury is built. A stiff climb, it is crowned by the 14th-century tower of St Michael’s Church. The rest of the church has gone, but the views from the summit of the Tor are superb and long. The myths and legends associated with ancient Glastonbury reach their fitting climax here, far above the flat Somerset Levels spread out below.
An extract from from"Somerset Photographic Memories".