Glastonbury Canal (medieval)
Encyclopedia
The medieval Glastonbury canal was built in about the middle of the 10th century to link the River Brue
at Northover (51.1384°N 2.7358°W) with Glastonbury Abbey
, a distance of about 1.75 kilometres (1,913.8 yd). Its initial purpose is believed to be the transport of building stone for the abbey, but later it was used for delivering produce, including grain, wine and fish, from the abbey's outlying properties. It remained in use until at least the 14th century, but possibly as late as the mid-16th century. English Heritage
assess the canal remains, based on a "provisional" interpretation, as a site of "national importance".
with timber and a wharf was possibly constructed. Radio-carbon analysis
of this wooden material indicates a 10th century, or possibly slightly earlier, date. It was fed by springs at this north-eastern end.
, the abbot, was engaged in reconstructing Glastonbury Abbey and the canal was needed to import the stone and other building materials. Dunstan had suffered a temporary period of exile in Ghent
and may have brought back knowledge of canals from there to direct the construction of this new waterway. Much of the stone came from the abbey's own quarries at Doulting
, allowing access by way of the River Sheppey
at Pilton
.
From the 11th century onwards Glastonbury Abbey became the centre of a large water-borne transport network as further canalisations and new channels were made in the region, including the diversion of the Brue to afford access to the important estate at Meare
and an easier route to the Bristol Channel
. In the 13th century the abbey's head boatman is recorded as using the waterways to take the abbot in an eight-oared boat on visits to the abbey's manors in the area. Datable pottery sherd
s in the silt from the floor of the canal show that it was still in operation in the 14th century, but is not clear when it fell out of use: although the northernmost part may have been filled in during the 14th century, for most of its length it may have been maintained until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
in the 16th century.
, at the site of commercial development was undertaken in 1986–7, and this uncovered the supposed wharf area. In 1989, during the construction of a roundabout to the south-west of the town, it was confirmed that the 1821 turnpike
, now the A39
, had made use of the upraised canal bank in its construction.
River Brue
The River Brue originates in the parish of Brewham in Somerset, England, and reaches the sea some 50 km west at Burnham-on-Sea. It originally took a different route from Glastonbury to the sea, but this was changed by the monastery in the twelfth century....
at Northover (51.1384°N 2.7358°W) with Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The ruins are now a grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are open as a visitor attraction....
, a distance of about 1.75 kilometres (1,913.8 yd). Its initial purpose is believed to be the transport of building stone for the abbey, but later it was used for delivering produce, including grain, wine and fish, from the abbey's outlying properties. It remained in use until at least the 14th century, but possibly as late as the mid-16th century. English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
assess the canal remains, based on a "provisional" interpretation, as a site of "national importance".
Construction
Modern archaeological excavations have shown that this was a "true canal" 5 metres (16 ft) wide and 1 metres (3.3 ft) deep, with a flat bottom and sloping sides. The place where it met the River Brue, then flowing about 80 metres (87.5 yd) north of its present course, was already significant: it had been an important crossing point, with a timber causeway over the river and the associated marshy floodplain, since at least the 8th century. For most of the canal's length it was dug through firm clay, following a level course along the 10-metre contour on the north-west side of Wearyall Hill, but at its end point, close to the Saxon-era market place (still extant at 51.1472°N 2.7180°W) it encountered less stable soil. Here the banks were revettedRevetment
Revetments, or revêtements , have a variety of meanings in architecture, engineering and art history. In stream restoration, river engineering or coastal management, they are sloping structures placed on banks or cliffs in such a way as to absorb the energy of incoming water...
with timber and a wharf was possibly constructed. Radio-carbon analysis
Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
of this wooden material indicates a 10th century, or possibly slightly earlier, date. It was fed by springs at this north-eastern end.
Use
At this period DunstanDunstan
Dunstan was an Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, a Bishop of Worcester, a Bishop of London, and an Archbishop of Canterbury, later canonised as a saint. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church...
, the abbot, was engaged in reconstructing Glastonbury Abbey and the canal was needed to import the stone and other building materials. Dunstan had suffered a temporary period of exile in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
and may have brought back knowledge of canals from there to direct the construction of this new waterway. Much of the stone came from the abbey's own quarries at Doulting
Doulting Stone Quarry
Doulting Stone Quarry is a limestone quarry at Doulting, on the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England.At Present there are only three quarries in the country quarrying Doulting stone. The Largest has been producing stone since Roman times....
, allowing access by way of the River Sheppey
River Sheppey
The River Sheppey has its source in a group of springs west of the village of Doulting, near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, England. It flows through the wetlands to the north of the Polden Hills and ultimately joins the River Brue.- Route :...
at Pilton
Pilton, Somerset
Pilton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the A361 road in the Mendip district, 3 miles south-west of Shepton Mallet and 6 miles east of Glastonbury. The village has a population of 935...
.
From the 11th century onwards Glastonbury Abbey became the centre of a large water-borne transport network as further canalisations and new channels were made in the region, including the diversion of the Brue to afford access to the important estate at Meare
Meare
Meare is a village and civil parish north west of Glastonbury on the Somerset Levels, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the village of Westhay.-History:...
and an easier route to the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
. In the 13th century the abbey's head boatman is recorded as using the waterways to take the abbot in an eight-oared boat on visits to the abbey's manors in the area. Datable pottery sherd
Sherd
In archaeology, a sherd is commonly a historic or prehistoric fragment of pottery, although the term is occasionally used to refer to fragments of stone and glass vessels as well....
s in the silt from the floor of the canal show that it was still in operation in the 14th century, but is not clear when it fell out of use: although the northernmost part may have been filled in during the 14th century, for most of its length it may have been maintained until the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in the 16th century.
Rediscovery
In 1886 John Morland, a local archaeologist, questioned the purpose of the old canal, identified by its sunken outline, water-filled in winter, along Wearyall Hill. Aerial photography, followed by rescue archaeologyRescue archaeology
Rescue archaeology, sometimes called "preventive" or "salvage" archaeology, is archaeological survey and excavation carried out in areas threatened by, or revealed by, construction or other development...
, at the site of commercial development was undertaken in 1986–7, and this uncovered the supposed wharf area. In 1989, during the construction of a roundabout to the south-west of the town, it was confirmed that the 1821 turnpike
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
, now the A39
A39 road
The A39 is an A road in south west England. It runs south-west from Bath in Somerset through Wells, Glastonbury, Street and Bridgwater. It then follows the north coast of Somerset and Devon through Williton, Minehead, Porlock, Lynmouth, Barnstaple, Bideford, Stratton, Camelford, Wadebridge and St...
, had made use of the upraised canal bank in its construction.