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The Early History of Glastonbury Abbey: A Hypothesis Regarding the 'British Charter'

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 14:38 authored by Martin GrimmerMartin Grimmer
The so-called 'British charter' of Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, contained in William of Malmesbury's De antiquitate Glastonie ecclesie of c. 1129, records a grant made in AD 601 by an unnamed king of British Dumnonia of land at 'Ineswitrin'. As William regarded this to be the British Celtic name for Glastonbury, the charter has been used to proclaim a pre-Saxon foundation for the Abbey. When the characteristics of the charter are considered, in particular the use of a scribal attestation, it appears however that it is West Saxon in form and should be dated to the later seventh century when Somerset was within West Saxon control. The charter cannot therefore substantiate the Abbey's existence before this time, though it does imply some level of cooperation between the West Saxon Church and the kingdom of Dumnonia.

History

Publication title

Parergon

Volume

20

Pagination

1-20

ISSN

0313-6221

Department/School

School of Humanities

Publisher

Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Place of publication

Perth

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Understanding past societies not elsewhere classified

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