Illustrated talk by Paul Ashdown at 7.30pm in Glastonbury Library

This lecture examines Henry III’s visits to Glastonbury against the background of the cult of the Holy Blood, possible links between the mysterious floor in the Old Church described by William of Malmesbury, Henry’s Cosmati floor in Westminster Abbey, and the ‘Melkin’s Prophecy’ section of John of Glastonbury’s Chronicle.

Illustrated talk by Louise Jones at 7.30pm in Glastonbury Library

Many archaeological resources remain buried at the Glastonbury Lake Village, some areas are as yet unexcavated and some large timber artefacts were reburied and are preserved in situ.   In 2008 a three year project was launched to investigate the sedimentary context of the Lake Village, via 30 cores from across the site, and to monitor changes in the chemistry of the water at varying depths and the depth of the water table at ten key points across the site.  We will hear of the results of the analysis of the cores and of the data from the monitoring of the water samples and the effect this information could have on our future management of the site.

Illustrated talk by Dr Cheryl Allum at 7.30pm in Glastonbury Library

In 1999 the records became available from Ralegh Radford’s excavations during the 1950’s and 60’s and a three year project was launched in 2009 encompassing all the surviving records and finds from the historic excavations together with a new geophysical survey of the precinct.  The lecture will provide an overview covering the scope of the project, the specialists involved and the major research questions being addressed.  The limitations and flaws in the archive, inherent in dealing with an historic excavation, will be discussed with descriptions of how these problems have been overcome.  The most interesting discoveries will be presented, some of which address the original research questions while others have produced unexpected results.  Finally, the output of the project will be outlined, ensuring that the results of the project are kept in the public domain and that the archive is easily accessible for future researchers.

Illustrated talk by David Orchard at 7.30pm in Glastonbury Library

Our Hon Librarian shares with us a view of Glastonbury society in the first half of the 20th Century through the eyes of our local police force.