Chalice Well Holy Well, Glastonbury, UK

A Haven on Peace and Meditation in the Shadow of Glastonbury Tor

Oct 31, 2008 Richard Mudhar

Drink the Chalybeate Waters of the Chalice Well and absorb the Peace and Restfulness of this Spiritual Sanctuary.

Chalice Well is the head of one of two iron-containing springs that rise in Glastonbury Tor. The strong taste of iron and the strong mysticism surrounding Glastonbury, iand the holy Thorn make this a very popular holy well, with the waters symbolic of the holy Blood of Christ.

According to the local legend, Joseph of Arimathea visited Glastonbury and placed his staff in the ground from which sprang the original Holy Thorn, and washed the cup used at the Last Supper where the spring rises out of the ground. One of the Thorns is in the Glastonbury Abbey itself, one is by the Chalice Well and another stands on Wearyall Hill near Glastonbury.

The Chalice Well Symbol, Vesica Piscis

A symbol is featured on the well cover that is common throughout the Chalice Well. Based on a mediaeval design, this symbol consists of two identical circles arranged so that the circumference of one circle passes through the centre of the other. A lance is passed through the symbol along the long axis, and this symbol is called the Vesica Piscis. The lower pool at the end of the flowform is designed to mirror the symbol.

The spring flows at a constant rate and temperature summer and winter, and this dependability and constancy is part of the mystical attraction of the site. In 1959 Wellesley Tudor Pole purchased the site and established the Chalice Well Trust, which has tended the area and extended it as a peaceful place of meditation and quiet reflection. The water rises in the well at the top part of the site furthest from the entrance, and the stone well-surround has several benches where visitors can meditate to the relaxing sound of the water.

It then passes to the drinking fountain, the Lion’s Head spout in the middle section. The water gushes onto the round stones below the spout where the iron content stains them orange. Here are a couple of glasses where visitors can sample the water, and fill containers if they want to take some home. Plastic containers are on sale at the ticket office but visitors are welcome to bring their own instead.

From the Lion’s Head pool the water descends a waterfall to a shallow pool where visitors may walk in the shallow (~10cm) waters, or meditate to the sound of the rushing water. This pool discharges into the Vesica pool at the entrance via the seven stages of the flowform. This is a small cascade with the flow carefully shaped to create vortices, which alternately fill and discharge, creating a mesmerising effect.

After a relaxing visit to the Chalice well you can visit the little bookstore or exit via the door in the wall.

Chalice Well Visiting Information

Chalice Well Opening times (365 days a year)

10:00 am to 5:30pm April to October inclusive

10:00 am to 4:00 pm all other times

Chalice Well Admission (2008)

£3.25 Adults, £2.70 Seniors, £1.60 children.

Toilets are near the exit (accessible once admission to the gardens has been paid)

Getting There

Chalice Well is about three-quarters of a mile from Glastonbury High Street. From the market cross at Glastonbury , walk up the High Street to the T-junction. Turn right up Chilkwell Street. Continue straight, past the mini roundabout. Chalice Well is on the left, just before Well House Lane leads left. After visiting the Chalice Well, the energetic may wish to walk up Well House Lane to visit Glastonbury Tor.

GPS location

51.143669N 2.706445W

Chalice Well on Google Maps

References

Chalice Well Guide leaflet, available on site.

The copyright of the article Chalice Well Holy Well, Glastonbury, UK in U.K./Ireland Travel is owned by Richard Mudhar. Permission to republish Chalice Well Holy Well, Glastonbury, UK in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.