Correspondence. 495
Somersetshire Folklore.
We often say that folklore is fast dying out; and must be collected before it vanishes. Though this is true enough, we are apt to forget that, nevertheless, folklore is still living and growing about us, and is capable of new developments in spite of the march of our boasted twentieth century knowledge. Proof of this came before me while I was staying at Glastonbury this summer. My informant was a gentleman of Glastonbury, who is assisting Mr. Bligh Bond in the excavations which are being carried on at the site of the Abbey.
Since these excavations have been in progress, those working on them, as well as visitors, have frequently smelt incense at various spots, and experts say that it is not the scent of the incense in use at the present day. My informant told me that he had been sceptical about this till one day he suddenly got a whifF of incense as hot and strong as if a burning censer had been swung in his face, and his clothes smelt of it even afterwards.
Rationalists say that the excavations have disturbed spots where the Abbey censers were emptied after use, and, as the gums of which incense is made are practically indestructible, we need not be surprised that the scent is still perceptible.
Again, on more than one occasion visitors staying in Glaston- bury have remarked on the beautiful peal of bells they had heard during the night, and on being questioned said it was a peal of twelve bells. There is no peal of bells in Glastonbury or its neighbourhood now, but an examination of old records showed that the Abbey had a peal of twelve bells. These ghostly Abbey bells have also been heard by people returning late at night to Glastonbury.
There is no tradition of bells being heard in Glastonbury, and believers point out that this story, and that of the incense as well, have originated since the site of the Abbey has again become Church property. Of course, in the case of the incense, this is discounted by the fact that it is since then that excavations have taken place. But it is clear that the halo of legend, which has always hung round Glastonbury, is proof against modern scepticism.
