Things to do and places to see in Glastonbury:
Wearyall Hill
Photo: ©2014 Vanda Lloyd
Wearyall Hill (Wirral Hill) is a long narrow ridge to the south west of Glastonbury. It's summit offers views across to Glastonbury Tor and the Somerset levels to one side, the town to another. It is on this hill that the legend of the Glastonbury Holy Thorn begins. The original was said to have blossomed from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea whom legend says came to Glastonbury after the crucifixion. Glastonbury was once an inland isle, surrounded by water and only connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. Visitors to the Isle could sail up the tidal river Brue and legend tells us that on arrival, Joseph planted his staff which took root and blossomed into the now world-famous Glastonbury Thorn.
Hearse’s History and Antiquities of Glastonbury (1722) describes a Mr. Eyston being given information on the Thorn by a local innkeeper: "I was told by the innkeeper where I set up my horses, who rents a considerable part of the enclosure of the late dissolved abbey, that St. Joseph of Arimathea landed not far from the town, at a place where there was an oak planted in memory of his landing, called the Oak of Avalon; that he and his companions marched thence to a hill near a mile on the south side of the town, and there being weary, rested themselves; which gave the hill the name of Weary-all-Hill; and Joseph on arrival, planted his staff in the ground and it immediately blossomed."
Hearse’s History and Antiquities of Glastonbury (1722) describes a Mr. Eyston being given information on the Thorn by a local innkeeper: "I was told by the innkeeper where I set up my horses, who rents a considerable part of the enclosure of the late dissolved abbey, that St. Joseph of Arimathea landed not far from the town, at a place where there was an oak planted in memory of his landing, called the Oak of Avalon; that he and his companions marched thence to a hill near a mile on the south side of the town, and there being weary, rested themselves; which gave the hill the name of Weary-all-Hill; and Joseph on arrival, planted his staff in the ground and it immediately blossomed."
More places to visit in Glastonbury
Bride's Mound | Chalice Well & Gardens | The Church of St John the Baptist | Glastonbury Abbey |
The Glastonbury Experience Courtyard | Glastonbury Goddess Temple | Glastonbury Thorn |
Gog & Magog | Lake Village Museum | Library of Avalon | St. Margaret's Chapel & the
Magdalene Almshouses | Somerset Rural Life Museum | Ponter's Ball |
The Glastonbury Tercentennial Labyrinth | Glastonbury Tor | Wearyall Hill | White Spring |
The Glastonbury Experience Courtyard | Glastonbury Goddess Temple | Glastonbury Thorn |
Gog & Magog | Lake Village Museum | Library of Avalon | St. Margaret's Chapel & the
Magdalene Almshouses | Somerset Rural Life Museum | Ponter's Ball |
The Glastonbury Tercentennial Labyrinth | Glastonbury Tor | Wearyall Hill | White Spring |