Podcast Episode 3 (The Brutal Demise of the Last Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey) out now!

Click here to listen to this podcast episode.

The ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. The massive walls of the nave and the crossing piers are the most striking remnants of the Great Church Photo by Laura Briola on Unsplash

The scale of Glastonbury Abbey is clear to see. Attribution to Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creative commons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

Glastonbury Abbey, once a mighty religious and cultural powerhouse now stands in ruins. This was the work of the King Henry VIII who ordered that all religious houses be dissolved. The Kings commissioners under the guidance of the savvy Thomas Cromwell fulfilled the monarchs wishes with frightening efficiency. Those establishments that resisted, tried desperately to cling to the Old Faith and took their guidance from Rome and the Pope. A King of England could not replace hundreds of years of religious devotion to the Catholic faith. This was a noble but dangerous course of action to take. Glastonbury Abbey, wealthy and revered, was one of the last religious establishments forced to bend to the will of the new Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Interestingly, after 1534 when the Act of Supremacy was rushed through parliament Abbott Whiting did add his signature to this legal document, officially renouncing obedience to the Pope. However, many, including Whiting, never saw Henry VIII as the spiritual leader of the church - it is almost as though he was humouring him...

An early 20th century representation of Glastonbury Abbey in all its glory.

There is no doubt that Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell understood the power and influence of establishments such as Glastonbury Abbey. Under the guise of the 'Valor Ecclesiasticus' ,a programme of inspection to clarify the wealth of the Church in England and Wales, Cromwell stated that his intention was not to abolish monasticism, but rather to purify it... Be in no doubt though that under the disguise of reformation, the real goal was the total destruction and acquisition of the vast wealth of religious houses such as Glastonbury Abbey.

A 1930's representation of Abbott Whiting being strapped, spread eagled, to a hurdle

Convicted at a mock trial in Wells, Somerset of robbery or theft of the physical wealth of Glastonbury Abbey, Abbott Whiting was shown no mercy. He was dragged through the streets of Glastonbury, tied to a hurdle before being dragged by horses up the steep hill of Glastonbury Tor.

Glastonbury Tor as viewed from the North East. Notice the medieval terracing surrounding the Tor. Attribution to Rodw, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

It was on top of Glastonbury Tor that Abbott Whiting and two of his monks met their punishment by means of being hung, drawn and quartered. Now, such a serene and peaceful place, we cannot comprehend the scenes that unfolded here in November 1539...

A stained glass window depicting the execution of Abbott Whiting at the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire. The caption reads 'Here Abbott Wyting is executed by order of the King'. Attribution to Me.Autem.Minui,CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

A legacy of propaganda...or is it..?

The site of King Arthur's tomb. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

And now...those photographs....

This is the first image of Glastonbury Tor that Erik Pelham took as part of a National Trust commission to document the building. Have a look through the archway - there is something there that shouldn't be... Photo credit to Erik Pelham

The second image of Glastonbury Tor with an unexplained image in the archway... Photo credit to Erik Pelham

As I have described in this podcast episode, Erik was certain that he had checked all around the site before documenting the condition of the building. He went to photograph this site early in the morning with a view that nobody would be around.. These photographs remain unexplained. I can only assure you that I have not tampered with them in any way and they appear in their original condition. The mystery ensues....

Modern times..

The cruel punishment and demise of Abbott Whiting has not been forgotton by local residents of Glastonbury. In fact, there is a live campaign seeking a royal pardon for Abbott Whiting. Click here, to view the newspaper article written in 2021.

Related Product Reviews

• This blog post and the associated podcast episode cannot cover the wider picture of The English Reformation but this book, Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation by Peter Marshall does this job expertly. Winner of the 2018 Wolfson History Prize, Marshall brings to life the views and opinions across the breadth of society during this turbulant time. As a reader, you get a real sense of the game of politics and how it was a game of deadly chess.

• On a lighter note, this card game is just perfect for us history lovers. A really engaging game for adults or children alike, More or Less History Edition is great to test your historical knowledge and is compact enough to take on your travels with you.

• Finally, Who's the most Despicable? Horrible Histories Top Trumps Card Game is just so much fun.. and would you believe it...King Henry VIII graces the front cover! Personally, I grew up playing Top Trumps of all varieties, so to find a history based one is just great for me! I would also highly recommend Tyrants and Warriors. Kings and Queens of England Top Trumps Card Game - again another Top Trumps game, but is focuses on British monarchs. I have certainly learnt a lot about Kings and Queens that I previously knew very little about. In classic Top Trumps style, each card is full of facinating facts. A great game to play with the whole family.

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