Glastonbury Canal (medieval)

The medieval Glastonbury canal was built in about the middle of the 10th century to link the River Brue at Northover (51°08′18″N 2°44′09″W / 51.1384°N 2.7358°W / 51.1384; -2.7358 (Start point at River Brue)) with Glastonbury Abbey, a distance of about 1.75 kilometres (1,900 yd). Its initial purpose is believed to be the transport of building stone for the abbey, but later it was used for delivering produce, including grain, wine and fish, from the abbey's outlying properties. It remained in use until at least the 14th century, but possibly as late as the mid-16th century. English Heritage assess the canal remains, based on a "provisional" interpretation, as a site of "national importance".[1]

  1. ^ Gathercole, Clare (2003). An archaeological assessment of Glastonbury (PDF). English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey. Taunton: Somerset County Council. pp. 19–20.