Chalice Well Info

Chalice Well is a holy well and situated at the foot of Glastonbury Tor. The natural spring and surrounding gardens are owned and managed by the Chalice Well Trust, a registered charity, founded in 1959 by Wellesley Tudor Pole. Here is a place of beauty, peace and healing and where pilgrims of all kinds have visited for countless centuries. The vesica pisces, a sacred geometrical figure on the lid of Chalice Well was designed by the excavator of Glastonbury Abbey, Frederick Bligh Bond, resident archaeologist of the 1900's. It was given to the Chalice Well as a thank-offering for Peace in 1919. The Chalice Well Trust carries on this philosophy today, and the gardens are open to individuals of all spiritual paths, the vesica pisces clearly symbolizing this.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the well has been in almost constant use for at least two thousand years and most certainly used by prehistoric tribes who once inhabited the land. Since ancient times, water has been revered as the essence of life, the gift of mother earth to sustain all her living forms. A spring such as the Chalice Well which has never been known to fail is especially revered as a symbol of the continuous and unbounded nature of the life force. The water feeds from the Chalice Well Spring which has an outflow of 25,000 gallons per day and is renowned for its extreme purity. Rich in iron, the water is red in appearance and thus is sometimes known as the Red Spring, and like the hot springs in nearby Bath, the water is believed to possess healing qualities.

Chalice Well Garden is an astoundingly peaceful and beautiful four acre refuge from the hectic hustle and bustle of modern life. Rich in legend and symbolism, the garden is sited upon two potent leylines, Mary and Michael. The lines cross paths at the region of the garden known as 'King Arthur's Court' along their routes between Cornwall, Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor, the Avebury Stone Circle and Norfolk. As well as its many picturesque flowers the garden is also home to some fine examples of ancient Yew trees. Yew trees have long been associated with churches and the sacred symbolism attached to them. The remains of an 18,00 year old Yew tree close to the Chalice Well itself signifies the symbolism and sacred atmosphere that the Chalice Well possesses.

King Arthur's Courtyard is an area of the garden that has long been deemed a place of healing. The bathing pool nowadays is shallow, but in the nineteenth century it was deeper and allowed for total immersion. The courtyard is a fine place for quiet contemplation with the sound of falling water creating a soothing background. Another area of special prayers and personal ceremony is the Lion's Head where visitors are welcomed to drink the waters. Today, the Trust continues the ideals inaugurated by Tudor and in 2001 Chalice Well became a World Peace Garden. Run by both employers of the Trust and volunteers the grounds also contain a 17th Century retreat and an Edwardian lodge, access to which is available to the Chalice Well companions.