Glastonbury Abbey has long been associated with legends of King Arthur, but one of the most intriguing stories dates back to 1190, when King Henry II reportedly ordered workers at the abbey to dig for the remains of the fabled king.

At the time, rumours were swirling that King Arthur was buried somewhere on the abbey grounds. Their search led to a discovery that would forever link Glastonbury with the Arthurian legends.

During the excavation, workers unearthed a leaden cross buried between two ancient stone pillars. Inscribed on the cross were the words Hic jacet sepultus inclitus rex Arturus in insula Avalloni – which translates to "Here lies buried the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalon." The discovery caused a stir and gave the workers hope that they were on the verge of uncovering proof of Arthur's existence. They dug deeper, and at a depth of 16 feet, they found what appeared to be an ancient coffin, hollowed out from the trunk of an oak tree.

Inside the coffin, they discovered the skeletal remains of a man who was said to have stood close to nine feet tall – an extraordinary height, even by today's standards. Alongside the giant skeleton was the remains of a woman, presumed at the time to be Queen Guinevere. According to records, the bones were later reburied in the church, close to the altar, in the presence of King Edward I, cementing Glastonbury's place in the Arthurian legend.

While the discovery excited many, not everyone was convinced. Over the centuries, some have questioned the legitimacy of the find, with sceptics suggesting that the leaden cross might have been placed there by monks seeking to draw attention to the abbey. The Encyclopaedia Britannica supports this theory, arguing that the monks could have used the Arthurian legend to boost the abbey's prestige and attract donations. The cross, it's suggested, was buried much closer to the surface than the coffin itself, raising further doubts about its authenticity.

However, despite ongoing debates about whether the remains truly belonged to Arthur, the discovery of a giant skeleton is not widely disputed. The respected historian Giraldus Cambrensis is said to have examined the bones in 1194 and declared them genuine. Centuries later, in the 1960s, archaeologist Dr Ralegh Radford conducted further excavations at the site, confirming that a significant person had been buried there during the time in question. While the identity of the skeleton remains uncertain, the discovery of such large bones adds weight to the mythology of giants, which has been a recurring theme in folklore worldwide.

Historians and archaeologists continue to debate the significance of the find, with some suggesting that the skeleton may have belonged to a Celtic chieftain rather than Arthur. Hollowed-out oak tree coffins were used by the Celts, adding a layer of historical context to the burial. But for many, the association with King Arthur remains the most compelling part of the story, linking Glastonbury to the mysterious Isle of Avalon.

The discovery at Glastonbury has sparked wider discussions about giants throughout history, with other examples of oversized skeletons found across the globe. The Myth of Man by J.P. Robinson delves into this phenomenon, highlighting the many instances where human remains of extraordinary size have been uncovered, particularly in the United States.

For Glastonbury, the connection to Arthurian legend has become an integral part of its identity. Whether or not the remains belonged to the legendary king, the tale has drawn countless visitors to the site, all eager to catch a glimpse of history – or myth – in the making.

The enduring mystery of Glastonbury's giant skeleton continues to fascinate. While some are content to believe in the legend of King Arthur, others question the motives behind the monks' actions. Was it a clever ploy to attract attention and money to the abbey, or was the discovery of a nine-foot skeleton the real proof of a long-lost chapter in Britain's past?