MAJOR DATES AND HISTORY OF GLASTONBURY
AD 43
Rome invades Britain
AD 63 Recognized date as the beginning of the old church at Glastonbury by Joseph of Arimethea
AD 410 Occupation by the Romans in Britain has concluded
AD 449Recorded date for the coming of the Angles, Jutes & Saxons to Britain
AD 540Radio carbon dated as occupation on Glastonbury Tor
AD 542Listed date of King Arthurs death
AD 600Radio carbon dates the "Vallum Monastarii"
AD 712 1st stone curch built by King Ine
AD 836 About the time of the Viking raids in the south-west
AD 967Ine's church is enlarged by abbot Dunstan who also builds the Cloisters
King Edmund is burried in the abbey
AD 963-73 Dunstan becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
1066 The Battle of Hastings
1077 The stone church is demolished and replaced by a larger Norman church by Abbot Thurstin who is dismissed after
his soldiers kill monks on the High Altar
1096 1st CRUSADE to the Holy Land
1116-18 Abbot Herluin demolishes the Norman church and builds another on a grander scale
1125 The Cloister's, Bell Tower, Chapter House, Infirmary, Refrectory, Brewery, Outer Gate and Stables are built. by: Abbot Henry of Blois ?
William of Malmesbury writes:"De AntiquitateGlastonieEcclesie"MartydomofThomasaBecket atCanterbury.
1184 A major fire destrys the Abbey, including the Old Church
1186 The Lady Chapel is consecrated on the site of the Old Church. King Henry ll puts his chancellor, Ralph
Fitzstephen in charge of rebuilding the monastery
1189 Work starts on building the East end of the GREAT CHURCH 3rd Crusade to the Holy Land led by King
Richard The Lion Hearted.
1190 King Arthur and Guinevere's tombs found in the cemetery
1195 Start of a 24 year feud between the abbey and the Bishop of Bath and Wells
1213 The GREAT CHURCH is consecrated
1215 King John signs the Magna Carta
1274-91 The CHOIR of the Great Church is completed, the GALILEE Chapel and West end of the NAVE are built.
ABBOT JOHN OF TAUNTON
Visit to the abbey by KING EDWARD I and QUEEN ELEANOR to attend the reburial of King Arthur's bones in front of the High Altar.
1323- 31 LODGINGS for 8 secular priests are built to the North of the Lady Chapel.ABBOT ADAM OF SODBURY
1337 The start of the 100 YEARS WAR between England and France.
1342- 48 The CHOIR of the Great Church is extended by 2 bays. ABBOT WALTER OF MONINGTON THE BLACK DEATH kills one third of the population in England.
1375- 1415 The CLOISTERS are rebuilt.ABBOT JOHN CHINNOCK
The Archbishop of Canterbury visits the abbey and notes the dissolute life of the monks. CHAUCER writes "THE CANTERBURY TALES"
The BATTLE OF AGINCOURT
1420- 56 The ABBOT'S KITCHEN is built, as are the BISHOPS QUARTERS and the WALL around the abbey precinct. ABBOT NICHOLAS FROME JOAN of ARC is burnt at the stake, accused of being a witch.
1455- 92 ABBOT JOHN SELWOOD rebuilds the Parish Church of St. JOHN THE BAPTIST and the PILGRIM INN.
The WAR OF THE ROSES
COLUMBUS discovers the WEST INDIES.
1493- 1524 ST PATRICK'S ALMSHOUSES are built to the North of the Lady Chapel.
ST JOSEPH'S CHAPEL is created in the crypt of the Lady Chapel
The EDGAR CHAPEL and the LORETTO CHAPEL are built. ABBOT RICHARD BEERE, KING HENRY VII visits the abbey MARTIN LUTHER challenges the sale of indulgences, and act seen as the start of the REFORMATION.
1534- 1536 ABBOT RICHARD WHITING
Abbot Whiting signs the ACT OF SUPREMACY
The FIRST ACT OF SUPRESSION is passed
The SECOND ACT OF SUPRESSION is passed.
T H E D I S S O L U T I O N O F G L A S T O N B U R Y A B B E Y
1539 The abbey buildings are ransacked and all valuables sold or removed to the King's treasury. Abbot Whiting is hung on Glastonbury Tor.
1560 A colony of weavers is established on the abbey site.
1908 Consolidation and repair of the ruined abbey begins.The abbey ruins are purchased by the BATH AND WELLS
DIOCESAN TRUST.
Glastonbury Abbey
The Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene St. Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9EL,UK.
Tel/Fax:01458 832267
http://www.glastonburyabbey.com
Glastonbury Abbey
