Economy of Glastonbury

Glastonbury

Glastonbury has for centuries been a center for religious tourism and pilgrimage. Like a heart beat the events which have built up the religious mythology of Glastonbury have occurred on a three century cycle that only a few occult or religious scholars have noticed. This pattern is obscure before the advent of Christianity and the arrival of Saint Patrick. But Glastonbury Tor and the area that surrounds it was sacred to the Celtic tribes and a gathering place for druids before the Roman conquests of Britain.

The arrival of Saint Patrick (late 4th century to early 5th century) in the area led to the introduction of Christianity to the native Brythonic tribes of the area and it is believed that Patrick may have clashed with local pagans during his conversions. Older legends state that the druids of the area were slaughtered by the Roman Legions during the conquests of the 1st and 2nd centuries of the common era.

The historical beginning of religious pilgrimage and patronage began with the reign of King Centwine of Wessex (676–685) (the West Saxons) who became the very first patron of Glastonbury Abbey. Three hundred years later the fame of the Abbey as a holy site led Edmund Ironside (Edmund II who reigned from April to November of 1016 AD) to hold his coronation there in the Spring of 1016.

Glastonbury Abbey was held to have been established in 712 AD (the 8th century) and saw major expansion during the 10th century, but was devastated by fire in 1184, but subsequently rebuilt and by the 14th century was one of the richest and most powerful monasteries in England.

In 1191, monks at the abbey claimed to have found the graves of Arthur and Guinevere to the south of the Lady Chapel of the Abbey Church, which was visited by a number of contemporary historians including Giraldus Cambrensis. The remains were later moved and were lost during the Protestant Reformation. Many scholars suspect that this discovery was a pious forgery to substantiate the antiquity of Glastonbury's foundation, and increase its renown.

From the discovery of Arthur and Guinevere's grave site onward Glastonbury became a major site of Christian pilgrimage. The 12th century was particularly fruitful in establishing the legendary nature of Glastonbury as many of that century's greatest writers contributed to its deepening mythology. There is no question that the town was dependent on the Abbey and Arthurian legend for its financial success, but over time other financial factors came into play.

Other trades did contribute to the Medieval economy of the town, a Saxon-era canal connected the town to the River Brue and the growth of the wool trade enriched Glastonbury town until its decline in the 18th century. Thereafter the town slipped into a financial funk until 1825 when C & J Clark was founded in the nearby village of Street, the new company produced sheepskins, woolen slippers and, later, boots and shoes especially those of school age children.

During the 19th and 20th centuries tourism developed based on the rise of antiquarianism, the association with the abbey and mysticism of the town. This was aided by accessibility via the Somerset and Dorset Railway and the road network, which has continued to support the town's economy and led to a steady rise in resident population since 1801.

At the turn of the 20th century the town center is thriving with countless small businesses the outskirts of the town contain a sheepskin and slipper factory site, owned by Morlands. The Morlands factory sits on a 31-acre (13 ha) site that lies in the south-western most corner of Glastonbury.

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