The Recovery Appeal Collection
The Glastonbury Abbey “Adopt an Artefact Scheme” plays a crucial role in helping Glastonbury Abbey recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also provides you with the opportunity to play an important role in conserving the abbey’s history and highlighting the importance of the artefacts held within its collection.
These artefacts represent only a small proportion of the items we have in our collection, most of which were found in excavations by some of the key figures in medieval archaeology during the 20th century, including Ralegh Radford.
The Capital StoneThis magnificent capital stone is the most complete remaining fragment from the cloister built by Abbot Henry de Blois.Read moreAdopt MeGilded Lead StarThis ornate gilded lead star is thought to have been used to decorate an interior wall or ceilingRead moreAdoptedMedieval Floor TileAdopt a medieval floor tile excavated at Glastonbury Abbey.Read moreAdoptedPainted Blue GlassThese stunning examples of painted blue glass date to the 12th century and are associated with the works of Henry of Blois, Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126 to 1171.Read moreAdoptedOrnamental MountsThese gilded fragments may have adorned books, altars or reliquaries. Their use is, so far, unknown, but they are clearly highly decorative.Read moreAdopt MeBook Binding ToolTools such as this example dating from the 15th/16th century were used for decorating leather-bound books with blind tooling.Read moreAdopt MeBroochThis gorgeous copper-alloy annular brooch, dating from the 13th to 14th century, is decorated with an incised mock inscription.Read moreAdopt MeBook ClaspDating to the 15th century and simply decorated, this example is made from copper alloy and still retains traces of leather from the book it would have been on.Read moreAdoptedGilt MountThis beautiful decorative gilt roundel features a central six peta flower or star design and has a possible attachment hole to help fix it to clothing.Read moreAdoptedPurse FrameDating from around the mid-16th century this copper-alloy frame would have been used to hold a leather purse to attach it to a belt.Read moreAdopt MeHoly Thorn PamphletDating from around 1730, this pamphlet gives an account of the legend of the thorn and its association with Joseph of Arimathea.Read moreAdoptedOil PaintingStunning oil painting, by an unknown artist from the English School, depicting the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, including the Abbot’s lodge.Read moreAdoptedGilded Lead StarThis ornate gilded lead star is thought to have been used to decorate an interior wall or ceiling.Read moreAdoptedMedieval Floor TileAdopt a medieval floor tile excavated at Glastonbury Abbey.Read moreAdopt MeChafing DishChafing dishes such as this would have been an important part of the abbey’s cooking.Read moreAdopt MeSaxon Blue GlassStunning examples of Saxon blue glass. These would have formed part of the Saxon Monastery which stood on the site.Read moreAdopt MePilgrim's BadgesThis example, excavated from the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey, is made of lead and decorated with a Seal of Solomon (Star of David) design.Read moreAdopt MeCarved Lions HeadA stunning lion's head carved from locally sourced blue lias stone.Read moreAdopt MeOyster ShellsThese oyster shells are part of a wealth of evidence of the importance of literacy and book production at the abbey.Read moreAdopt MeGrotesqueThis comical “grotesque” head dates from the 11th to 12th century.Read moreAdopt Me
