The Avalonians

by Patrick Benham

An intriguing account of the life and times of the extraordinary characters who were drawn to Glastonbury, the Isle of Avalon, at the turn of the 20th century and who became involved in a series of strange events. The story begins with the discovery in St. Bride's Well of a blue glass bowl, rumored to be the Holy Grail, which baffled British Museum experts. This controversy attracted Archdeacon Basil Wilberforce, poet Fiona Macleod, the esotericists A.E. Waite, Annie Besant and Wellesley Tudor Pole, Mark Twain, and the renowned physicist Sir William Crookes. In 1914 the composer Rutland Boughton set up the annual Glastonbury Festivals helped by his friend George Bernard Shaw; Alice Buckton, the educational pioneer, started an arts and crafts and drama center at Chalice Well; the architect Frederick Bligh Bond carried out psychic investigations into the history of Glastonbury Abbey; later, Dion Fortune came to Glastonbury to write some of her best known works. It is a unique document of social and historical significance, full of controversy and bizarre happenings.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

292 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 1993

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating group biography of real people whose names you may not know but who boldly tugged on threads in and around Glastonbury in the early 20th century to begin to re-weave the spiritual atmosphere of Avalon that draws so many to today's town and the surrounding country. (A few whose names you do know also turn up, most notably Mark Twain and George Bernard Shaw.) The author, in his introduction, clearly states that this is a book about individuals and their intertwined experiences, not an apologia for any particular spiritual viewpoint:

"It has not been my intention to try to prove or disprove the theories or spiritual claims of anyone in this study.... There is no dogma here, but simply an account of people's inner perceptions, their psychic reality.... We might question their conclusions about what they see, but we cannot deny that, to them, what they have experienced is absolutely real."

Would that each of us could have our inner lives accepted with Bentham's objectivity!

The book is wonderfully illustrated with photos of almost all the subjects, and extensive quotations from their books and poems have given me much more to read on the topic of misty Avalon.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered the existence of this book on a journey to Glastonbury in September 2025 when it was referenced on an Abbey tour by Paul Weston. It is a book that when I heard its title, I knew in a flash that I wanted to read it. I've been nearly obsessed with it since I got home, not only reading it, but studying it, taking notes, drawing timelines. It may be a confusing read to those who have not visited Glastonbury. The names, dates, references, connections in this group bio can be overwhelming. For that reason, I wish that charts and timelines were included in the book. A graphic would be helpful in keeping the characters and happenings straight. It must have been no small task to write this book and it was obviously written as a work of love and mission. The arrow Benham's intention has firmly pierced my heart!
I not only learned about the fascinating characters, but I found a community of like minded souls. I did not know until I read this book that I am one of the Avalonians that this land draws to it and transforms.
Thank you to all the figures in this book for their lives of passion and authenticity. And thank you to author Patrick Benham for keeping their works and stories alive!
I highly recommend this book.

[Lisa]

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[Dreamersemporium]

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