The Ghost Monks of Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey, once England’s most powerful monastery, has been a ruin since Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. But the monks who died there, some violently, are said to still walk the sacred grounds.

The History

Glastonbury was the wealthiest abbey in England and the legendary burial place of King Arthur. When Henry VIII ordered its dissolution, the last Abbot, Richard Whiting, was executed. The abbey was stripped of its treasures and left to decay.

The Apparitions

Visitors and staff report seeing robed figures walking among the ruins. These phantom monks appear solid at first glance but vanish when approached. They are most often seen at dawn or dusk, following paths that once led between buildings that no longer exist.

The Chanting

Many visitors report hearing Gregorian chant when the grounds are empty. The singing seems to come from the location of the long-destroyed choir. Some have described the sound as heartbreakingly beautiful.

Frederick Bligh Bond

In the early twentieth century, archaeologist Frederick Bligh Bond claimed to have located lost chapels through automatic writing, receiving directions from the spirits of the monks themselves. His discoveries were accurate, though his methods cost him his reputation.

Assessment

Glastonbury’s power lies in its history. Whether the monks are genuine spirits or psychic impressions, thousands of visitors have experienced something inexplicable among the ruins. The holy place remains haunted by its tragic past.