Glimpses of soaring spires, vaulted cloisters and carved stonework — newly released AI-generated images show how Glastonbury Abbey may have looked in its 15th‑century prime. The project, led by volunteer researcher Henry Bacon and the abbey, is based on past archaeological and architectural studies.

The images conjure three distinct views: the Lady Chapel, the abbey's North Side, and the cloisters. Abbey staff stress they cannot guarantee exact historical accuracy — but say the reconstructions aim to convey the scale and grandeur lost to time.

Visitors this weekend can spot interpretation boards at the site, each with a QR code linking to animated versions of the images. Volunteers will be on hand, inviting feedback on the project's potential as a modern heritage‑interpretation tool.

Today's ruins — fragmented walls, grass-covered ruins and open sky — stand in stark contrast to the AI's soaring architecture.

The abbey was largely destroyed in 1539 under the Dissolution of the Monasteries, ordered by King Henry VIII. Roof lead and dressed stone were stripped out, manuscripts lost, and buildings dismantled. Earlier still, a major fire in 1184 had devastated earlier structures, prompting rebuilding efforts that fed into the abbey's medieval splendour.

Now, the new visuals bridge past and present — offering residents and visitors a haunting reminder of what once stood, and inviting people to reflect on change, loss, and heritage preservation.

More local stories:

• Glastonbury crackdown 'set to fail' as police admit fines won't work
• Rare grey long‑eared bats make comeback at Glastonbury Abbey
• Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre set to return in April 2026

Sign up to your nearest Nub News newsletter — Get the top stories from across the area every Friday.