Photograph_Gallery_Glastonbury_Chalice_well

The Chalice Well garden in Glastonbury is a place to visit for an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. These well tended gardens are a haven from the stresses and pressures of modern life and each year are frequented by people from all over the world, people of many cultures and beliefs, although of course one does not need a religious reason to visit this peaceful setting. People visit here to drink the water and find peace and serenity from the clamor of life and to seek healing in the curative waters of the red spring. Archeological evidence suggests that the well has been used for as long as 2000 years.

The garden is steeped in legend and it is believed to be sited on two ley lines which pass through an area of the garden called 'King Arthur's Court' with their routes continuing through Glastonbury abbey and Glastonbury Tor.

In 2001 the chalice well gardens became a World Peace Garden.

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The Chalice Well

The chalice well is one of Britain's most ancient wells and is really a spring called the Red spring. The Red spring is so named because of it's high content of iron, the origin of the Red spring is unknown precisely but it is believed to arise from the Tor. Legend has it that the Red spring arose from the place where Joseph of Arimathea buried the holy grail, the cup Jesus used at the last supper.

The well is also associated with modern paganism: the well is seen as symbolic of the female aspect of the divine while the male aspect is symbolised by Glastonbury Tor. It is however of importance to people of all faiths including those who come here under the umbrella of New Age beliefs
The chalice well is situated within the chalice well gardens, a peaceful place in which to quietly sit and contemplate/meditate or simply be peaceful. Whenever you visit here you will find people sitting in medication or simply enjoying the peaceful ambiance which not even the occasional fly over of an RAF jet seems to spoil
Thousands of gallons of water each day pour from the red spring, which feeds the Chalice well which has never been known to run dry.

The Lion's Head

The Lion's head is the place where it is safe to drink the water from the red spring. The reason everything, including those glasses you see in the photograph which have been there for many years, is tinted red is due to the high content of iron in the water.
It is believed by many that the water of the Red spring has healing properties and many visit to partake of the waters of this ancient spring. There is another outlet of the spring for drinking purposes in Well House Lane where there is also an outlet on the opposite side of the road for drinking water from Glastonbury's second spring, the White spring .

The Tree right above the lions head has been grown from a graft of the Glastonbury Thorn or Holy Thorn tree which legend says that Joseph of Arimathæa brought with him from the Holy Land and which sprouted from his staff. The story goes that Jesus with his great Uncle Joseph of Arimathæa came to England and built the first church. After the crucifixion Joseph of Arimathæa came once again to Britain bringing with him the cup of Christ, the holy grail the cup used at the last supper and the cup which was used to contain the blood of Christ shed at the crucifixion. When he arrived at Wearyall hill Joseph now so exhausted thrust his staff into the ground and remained to rest until morning, by which time it had taken root to become what is now called the Holy Thorn or Glastonbury Thorn.
The descendent of the thorn, seen above grows on Wearyall hill. There are other holy thorns around Glastonbury said to be grafted from the original, another can be found in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey and also in the grounds of St John's church in the town centre

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The Vesica piscis pool

The water of the red spring pours here into the Vesica Piscis pool which was constructed in the 1970's. The flowform which spirals the waters into a figure of eight was added in 1993 and is based upon the ideas of Rudolf Steiner.

The Vesica Pisces is a sacred geometrical symbol of transformation and is based upon two interlocking circles both of which are of equal size, the circumference of one of these circles passes through the other one at the centre. This centre section is the Vesica. If this symbol is extended at one end you have the symbol of a fish which during Roman times was the symbol for Christianity. However the symbol is sacred to many religions worldwide and represents the union of opposites such as , masculine famine, heaven and earth. This is a very complex subject. If you require a more comprehensive explanation visit:

Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre

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King Arthur's Court

Here in this tranquil setting a healing pool is located where it is believed that the two powerful leylines, called the Michael and Mary leylines mentioned in the introduction meet before encircling Glastonbury Tor nearby.

For centuries these waters have been thought to have curative properties. Most certainly this is a peaceful place of quiet serenity where the flow of the water is soothing in the cool of the shade. There is a road that passes close by and the occasional intrusion of motor vehicles may be heard, nonetheless there is here the kind of quiet that exists despite the noises of day to day living

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A profusion of flowers grow in the peaceful setting of the Chalice Well Gardens

Path leading to the Chalice well. There is a proliferation of beautiful flowers throughout this well maintained garden. A tranquil place visited by many people time and time again.

As you make your way along the path you will notice that amongst the stones are the occasional ammonite fossils.

These flowers are among the many flowers and other plants that grow beside the Chalice well making it a special place for meditation and contemplation.

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The chalice well gardens are owned and cared for by the Chalice well trust founded in 1959 by Wellesley Tudor Pole :
Welcome to the Chalice Well - Chalice Well Trust

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Flickr:
You can view and down load more photographs from my flicker Glastonbury and Surrounding Area Photo Stream set, starting with:
Glastonbury Tor in Spring on Flickr - Photo Sharing!