A seven day tour of the south west of England, visit the mystic places associated with the legendary King Arthur.
One of the greatest figures in English folklore is King Arthur. According to legend he lived in the late 5th and early 6th centuries at a time when Britain was the scene of the final bloody struggles for domination between the Romano-British Celts and the Saxon invaders. He is considered to have been the leader in the defence of the south-western homelands. Arthur was a Christian warrior, and led a band of 28 knights, the legendary knights of the round table. One of these knights was Lancelot, whose love for the beautiful Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur is one of these known Arthurian stories.
Early chroniclers believed that the seat of Arthur's power was the famed town of Camelot, situated in the south-west. Modern research has shown that behind the figure of legend was a real person of considerable historical significance. A historian writes: In this time of winter and destruction, there were brave men among the Britons, who for many years held back the heathen Saxons, striving with might and wisdom to preserve their country, to maintain an orderly and decent systems of government, to preserve town, church and villa, to rescue the beleaguered, and to bring peace to the land. Such a man was Arthur. The south west of England, made up of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, possesses a powerful tradition of independence, a strain of mysticism taken from early Pagan times and modified by Christianity and a breathtaking combination of scenery and climate. This area was the home of a man of greatness and fighting prowess who became a folk-hero.
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Arthur's Birthplace
The legend has it that Arthur was the illegitimate son of Uther Pendragon and Ygerne, wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. Uther, aided by the magical arts of Merlin the wizard took on the likeness of Gorlois, entered his castle at Tintagel and seduced Ygerne.
Tintagel Castle, built in 1145 on the sight of previous occupation dating back to the 4th century is set on a ruin strewn wonderfully romantic headland situated on the indented northern coastline of Cornwall and perched dizzily above the crashing surf of the Atlantic. Nearby is Merlin's Cave and the Vale of Avalon. In the village can be seen King Arthur's hall, the headquarters of the fellowship of the round table.
Slaughter Bridge, Cornwall
A Possible Site for the Battle of Camlann
One mile from Camelford is the site of a decisive battle fought between the Celts and the Saxons in 823. Also claimed to be a possible place for the Battle of Camlann fought between Arthur and his nephew Mordred, in which Arthur was fatally wounded.
St Columb Major, Cornwall
Arthur's Youth - The Hunting Lodge at Castle-An-Dinas
The village feels darkly ancient, its narrow streets lined by slate hung houses. Castle-An-Dinas a half mile climb from the road, is the most elaborate prehistoric fort in Cornwall, three rings of earth works are visible.
Fowey, Cornwall
The Tragic Love of Sir Tristram for Iseult, Castle Dore
Fowey is a popular town with delightfully narrow streets. During the 14th and 15th centuries few French north coast towns were without the constant fear of a raid by the "Fowey Gallants".
Relics of its swaggering days are the ruined forts at the river mouth, which formerly had a chain between them to slice off the masts of enemy ships.
Castle Dore is an iron age earthwork which has been connected with the romance of King Mark of Cornwall, Tristram and Iseult. Three miles from Castle Dore stands Tristram's stone, a monolith seven feet high inscribed in Latin "Tristram lies here, the son of Cunomorus (Mark)".
Cadbury Castle, Somerset
The Search for Camelot
With Arthur the military leader of Britons, Tintagel would have been too far removed from the battle front for it to have been used as a military base. Cadbury is a good defensive site, within easy reach of the battle front, yet not directly affected by warfare. Evidence has been discovered that the site was used during neolithic and iron ages and by Romans, Britons (5th-6th century AD) and Saxons (Circa. 1010). Traces of a timber hall of the 5th century period have been found. In 1542 a Tudor historian refers to Cadbury as being Arthur's Camelot.
The view from Cadbury Castle is tremendous, over the broad tree-scattered mile vales typical of Somerset.
A Possible Site for The Battle of Camlann
The popular view is that the battle was fought beside the River Cam in the shadow of Cadbury Castle (Camelot) and that the mortally wounded Arthur was carried along "King Arthurs Causeway" to Avalon (Glastonbury).
Badbury Rings and Liddington Castle, Dorset and Wiltshire
Arthur's Defeat of the Saxon Invader, The Battle of Mount Badon AD 516
There are two possible sites for the great battle of Mount Badon. Firstly, Badbury Rings, near Wimborne Minster, Dorset. The steep hill top fortress rises in three tiers of mound and ditch defences which form one of the greatest iron-age forts in the country.
Secondly, Liddington Castle. The village boasts attractive thatched cottages, a 17th century manor house and a church dating back to the 13th century.
High above the village, stands Liddington Castle. An ancient iron age earth work, consisting of a ditch and a 40 foot high rampart.
Glastonbury, Somerset
Arthur's Quest for the Holy Grail
The legend of Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail is central to the story.
The legend of Glastonbury is that under the waters of a spring on the slopes of Glastonbury Tor, which is topped by a 14th century church tower, Joseph of Aremathea buried the chalice used by Christ at the last supper, that when on a nearby hill, he thrust his thorn staff into the ground it took root to produce the distinctive Glastonbury winter flower thorn tree, and that on an island amid marshes and lakes, surrounded by lake villages on what was later to be the site of the great abbey round which the town grew, he built a church of daub and wattle and there made the first conversions to Christianity in Britain.
Glastonbury Tor, under which Joseph is supposed to have buried the Grail, rises 500 feet above the town. The Tor is topped by the chapel of St Michael, while at it's foot is the fabulous Chalice Well the great bubbling spring that has flowed from Tor since ancient times, the waters of which where formerly considered to be curative and are to this day drunk by pilgrims.
Joseph of Arimethea/Aremethea, et al
1st century. The thorn cross and the Holy Grail (the chalice used by Jesus and the Apostles at the Last Supper) refer to the legend that St. Joseph of Aremethea brought both to Glastonbury. The drops represent the sorrow of burial - indeed, anciently, the thorn itself was supposed to weep. St. Luke 23:50-56 gives an account of Joseph's service to Christ, he allowed Jesus to be buried in the tomb he had bought for himself.
Crest: A gold cross, silver chalice, silver drops on a blue field. by Jacquelline Lloyd 4Mm - Pompallier College 1998
Index of Saints, St Joseph of Arimathea
When I first started my study of genealogy, I had no idea where it would lead. Now after a few years I find my great grandmothers surname is buried in legend and tradition. Whether the legend has any fact I do not know, but it still remains a fascinating part of our history. I have taken my information from several sites on the web, including church
records in England.
SILVERTHORNE PAGE
The name of SILVERTHORNE comes from the Old English name of SEOLFERTHORN and means the family that lived by the silver or white thorn tree. Family tradition holds that the name refers to the particular thorn tree, known as the Holy Thorn of Glastonbury, that wasplanted by Joseph of Arimathaea, Uncle of the Virgin Mary. An interesting legend handed down by tradition through the generations of the Silverthorne family, connects both the family and the origin of the name with one of the miracles of the early Christian Church. According to this legend the first Christian Church in England was founded by St. Joseph of Arimathaea and his 12 apostles, at Glastonbury, County of Somerset about 30-33 A.D. When Joseph and his followers were threatened by the natives, he is said to have planted his staff of thornwood in the earth as he lifted up his voice in prayer. The staff burst into leaf and bloom and all nature put on the garb of spring, although the date was December 25th .... the first Christ-Mass ever held in England. The "Holy" thorn thus springing from Joseph's staff became famous throughout England. St. Joseph of Arimathaea was a merchant who obtained his wealth by trading tin and lead between Somerset and Cornwall and Phoencia. He erected a small modest church which was later replaced by a solid structure and presented to the brotherhood. Glastonbury Abbey was one of the oldest and most magnificent ecclesiastical institutions in England, regarded as the FIRST hallowed spot--the very Zion of the Christian Church in England. Glastonbury's remnants contain a tomb said to be that of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, also one legend claims St. Patrick is buried there too. The publication of the three volume HISTORY OF THE SILVERTHORN FAMILY in 1982 by the Silverthorn(e) Family Association has initiated further research of the parish records in Wiltshire and Somerset Counties, England. It is noted that the surname probably dates from the 12th century as it is not mentioned in the Book of Domesday of 1086 A.D. WILLIAM SILVERTHORN is suggested as being the father of JOHN (below), and that John Silverthorn, Vicar of the Church of St. Martin, was a probable brother.
The following Silverthorne's listed in the 1880 census. There may be more; these are the ones I found.
Alpena, Michigan Directories, 1887-92 2
Appleton, Wisconsin Directories, 1884-98 5
Boston, Massachusetts Directory, 1890 1
Erie, Pennsylvania City Directories, 1889-93 8
Evansville, Indiana Directories, 1888-92 5
Glen Falls, New York Directories, 1888, 1890, 1891-92 3
Jackson, Michigan Directories, 1887-88, 1890 1
Leadville, Colorado City Directories, 1882-90 1
Little Rock, Arkansas City Directories, 1893-98 3
Louisville, Kentucky Directories, 1890 1
Manchester, New Hampshire Directories, 1890-93 2
Minneapolis, Minnesota Directories, 1889-91 2
Morristown, New Jersey Directories, 1887-88, 1890-91 2
Norfolk, Virginia Directories, 1888-91 1
New Orleans, Louisiana Directories, 1890-1891 7
Orange, New Jersey Directories, 1887-90 2
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Directories, 1888-92 1
Saginaw, Michigan Directories, 1889-90 3
Utah Directory, 1890: Salt Lake City, Logan, and Provo 1
San Antonio, Texas City Directories, 1891-94 6
San Francisco, California Directories, 1889-91 6
Chicago Voter Registration, 1890 1
Chicago Voter Registration, 1892 2
Iowa State Census 1885 27
Nebraska State Census 1885
NOTICE: The article at top of page labeled "Silverthorne Page", was taken from the spaar site listed below with the following communication.......
Subj: Re: Silverthorne
Date: 6/10/2003 5:18:45 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: spaar@televar.com
To: DMARLENA@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
"""""""""""""""
Information came out of the Silverthorn/e series of books. Author has died so don't really have an answer for you. You can find the books in some archives, Salt Lake City (Mormons). Perhaps a lending branch of your local library. Bette """""""""""
----- Original Message -----
From: DMARLENA@aol.com
To: spaar@televar.com
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 10:32 AM
Subject: Silverthorne
Hi;
I read the article on the origin of the name "Silverthorne" and legend of Joseph of Arimethea. Since my great grandmother was Ella Mae Slverthorne, daughter of Joseph Silverthorne, I'm wondering if this legend is recorded anyplace (like a church, etc). I would greatly appreciate any help you might provide.
Thanks,
Dolores Marlena
email:Dmarlena@aol.com
It's difficult to know where to start on Glastonbury's myths and legends - there are so many. But one story, with its various extensions and frills, stands out amongst the rest. It concerns Joseph of Arimethea, the Holy Grail, the introduction of Christianity to Britain, and the fight to preserve it against paganism. Joseph appears in our modern bibles but once - as the benefactor who paid for Jesus' tomb. But tradition gives him much greater depth (these traditions are not just local to Glastonbury - separate traditions in Cornwall, in Syria and in Galatia strengthen their provenance). The tradition has Joseph as uncle to Mary, mother of Jesus. He was a Roman citizen - a "decurion". This was a rank most commonly held by traders - particularly metal merchants. The bible contains a curious gap concerning the life of the young Jesus. We see him at the age of twelve, astonishing the elders with his knowledge and wisdom. Then the story leaps forward 18 years to the beginning of his ministry. What happened in between?
Tradition states that during this time, Joseph of Arimethea took the lad into his business, to show him the world. The world of a metal merchant of that time would inevitably include Britain. Although not yet part of the Roman Empire, it was already one of the most important sources for lead & tin - with some silver and iron to be found as well.
If this much is true, Joseph would have brought the lad to the Mendips and to Glastonbury. This last site would already have been a holy site of some kind, perhaps of Druidism, perhaps of some unknown religion. There is no tradition that Jesus did anything special while he was here, although some versions of the tale say that he returned for a second visit, without Joseph, at a later date (but before beginning his ministry). After the crucifixion, and Joseph's involvement in the mystery of the open tomb, it is said that Joseph fled Palestine, to evade the threat now gathering over those associated with Jesus. Some say he took his niece, Mary, with him. In all versions of the tale, he carried with him the Holy Grail - generally supposed to be the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, although some suggest that it was a vial of Jesus' blood. It would have made sense to go somewhere he knew, but somewhere outside the (then) Empire. Britain (and Glastonbury) fits the bill.
When Joseph landed on the island of Avalon (at the time, Glastonbury would risen above flood waters for most of the year), he set foot on Wearyall Hill - just below the Tor. Exhausted, he thrust his staff into the ground, and rested. By the morning, his staff had taken root - leaving a strange oriental thorn-bush on Wearyall. (Today, a scion of this tree - the "Holy Thorn" - remains, as well as another in the grounds of St.John's church in the middle of town.) Thereafter, Joseph established a Christian church in Glastonbury, dedicated to Our Lady (his niece). If so, this (the "the Wattle Church") would have been the earliest Christian church, anywhere in Christendom.
As for the Grail, its fate was a mystery - hence the Quest for the Grail. This Quest is central to the fuller tradition of Arthurian legends; Arthur's knight rode off in pursuit of this unknowable object. If they found it, they would transcend their base natures and get a better knight's sleep, or something. At any rate, there is a Chalice Well in Glastonbury, running with red-tinged water, to which has been credited many miracles, mostly small, personal ones.
