Wells and Glastonbury

After the morning in Avebury I ventured Westward. My first stop was Wells for its cathedral. I first noticed the chain bridge that offered passage between the Vicar's Close and the cathedral.

The West Front is covered in figures built in the 1200s. 

The inside is even more impressive.

A whimsical mechanical clock inside dates from 1392. Beyond the time, it also shows the position of the planets and the phases of the moon. On the hour small figures move along the top and another figure rings a bell further along the wall. 

Wells Cathedral is best known for its beautiful scissor arches, which look modern - or even futuristic - despite being more than half a century old. 

This is one of the most understated signs I've ever read.

The chapter house beyond the worn steps was elegant.

I'm still a sucker for old ornate wooden doors...

...weird sculptures of mythological creatures...

... and creepy coffin lids of emaciated holy men. 

The nearby Bishop's Palace looked like a castle.

The moat is fed by the city's namesake wells, and was home to ducklings on the day of my visit.

My last stop of the day was Glastonbury. The main draw was the ruined abbey, which was home to as many  myths as stones. Joseph of Arimathea, the guy in the bible who donated his prepared tomb to Jesus. According to British legend, Joseph took the holy grail to Britain. He is traditionally said to have founded the christian church on the isles (despite all historical records to the contrary). Also, according to legend, when he placed his staff in the ground in Glastonbury it miraculously grew into a tree, the Glastonbury Thorn. The cathedral is also supposed to be the burial place of King Arthur and  Queen Guinevere. Their bodies were found there, right after a fire damaged the cathedral and money was needed for repairs. Seems legit. 

My favorite part of the tour was the more recent history, particularly the description in a real estate advertisement for the property when it was sold along with a neighboring mansion: 'a grand house with a ruin in the garden'.

A short walk away stands the Glastonbury Tor, a hill also steeped in legends. It is the home to a faery king, the Celtic ruler of the underworld, and is the spot that a mortally wounded King Arthur was taken and will rise again - the once and future king. A medieval church once topped it, but only the tower remains.

Despite my usual inclinations, I did not climb to the top. I needed to catch the last bus to Exeter. I had a quick glance at Exeter's cathedral before heading to the hostel for the night.