The Real Camelot, Glastonbury and Avalon
by Aisling D'Art, © 2003-4, all rights reserved

Before concluding that Glastonbury is the legendary Avalon, let's check other landmarks of King Arthur’s reign.

We know that King Arthur had a castle at Camelot. We know that his final battle was at Camlann. Where were they? Do they provide clear geographic links to Glastonbury?

"Camlann," Arthur's last battle

Camlann was probably a site on the River Cam, which could be any of several rivers, including one near the town of Camel, not far from Cadbury and Glastonbury.

However, “Cam” was a word that meant crooked, and--like the Avon--there are several Cam rivers in the United Kingdom. For example, the most famous Cam River is at Cambridge, England.

It’s easier to narrow the field by looking for Camelot.

Camelot in history

On a 1st century CE map, ancient geographer Ptolemy located a town called Camuludanum in southern England. On Ptolemy’s early map, the town is on Britain’s east coast, but that same map shows Scotland turned askew at a 90-degree angle, so his locations may not be reliable.

Our next clear geographical reference to Camelot was many centuries later. In 1533, John Leland kept a travel diary, as he worked on a Royal Commission of Antiquity. He wrote:

“At the very south ende of the chirch of South-Cadbyri standith Camallate, sumtyme a famose town or castelle…”

Leland explained that, according to the residents of 16th-century South Cadbury, the hill-fort near their church had been the site of Camelot.

However, in Leland’s time, the 500-foot hill at South Cadbury offered little physical evidence, though his notes provide important clues which were later confirmed.

For example, Cadbury offers the oldest documented cave-legend, dating at least to the 16th century, and perhaps earlier:

The sleeping King Arthur

They say that King Arthur lies asleep in a cave hidden within the hill at South Cadbury.

On certain nights, particularly Midsummer Night and Christmas Eve, perhaps every seventh year, King Arthur rises from his sleep and leads his knights down through the ancient gates of Cadbury Castle. They pause at the Sutton Montis Church, where their horses drink from the spring next to the chapel. Then they return to their cave and resume their sleep, until Britain needs them.

Whether the ghosts are seen or not, many people report hearing the hoof beats on the road, especially on nights when sounds carry easily through the crisp winter air.

It's a charming tale, but folklore alone cannot prove the location of Camelot at South Cadbury.

The most convincing evidence was uncovered four centuries after John Leland made his notes.

Arthur's Palace

Archaeologists between 1966 and 1970 excavated a small portion of the hill at South Cadbury. At the high part of the hill called Arthur’s Palace, they revealed the sixth-century foundation of a huge timber hall, 63 feet by 34 feet.

Soon, a complex of buildings--including a large kitchen--were uncovered near this structure. Artifacts in these buildings indicate a center of international importance.

There was also a gatehouse, and a 16-foot thick wall protected at least three-quarters of the perimeter of the hill-fort. A ten-foot wide cobblestone road entered this enclosure through massive double doors, and exited in a similar manner.

This “castle” area was large enough to accommodate about 1000 men and their families, plus the staff necessary to support this enormous encampment.

This Cadbury site, possibly named after another ruler, Cado, is unique. Although other sites, especially in Wales and Scotland, lay claim to the title of Camelot, they don't fit so well with established facts and the best-documented legends.

Archaeological studies show that the Cadbury hill-fort is the right size, with enough importance, from the correct time period, and in a location that meshes perfectly with the Glastonbury legends.

The hill-fort at Cadbury was probably the site of King Arthur's Camelot.

In the next page, Glastonbury Lore, we’ll explore the history of Glastonbury Tor, from which Guinevere was rescued by Arthur, and where Arthur later maintained a stronghold. Glastonbury is about twelve miles from the Cadbury hill-fort.

glastonbury pages - aisling's travel index