Chislehurst Caves: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers 12,877 edits Swan Song launch 1974 |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
The earliest mention of the mines is circa [[1250]] and they are last believed to have been worked in the [[1830s]]. In the [[World War I|First World War]] they were used as an ammunition depot associated with the [[Royal Arsenal]] at [[Woolwich]]. Between the wars they were used for [[mushroom]] cultivation and in [[World War II|World War 2]] they were used as an [[air raid shelter]] with electric lighting, a chapel and a hospital. Between the autumn of 1940 and the spring of 1941, the caves sheltered over 15,000 people every night. |
The earliest mention of the mines is circa [[1250]] and they are last believed to have been worked in the [[1830s]]. In the [[World War I|First World War]] they were used as an ammunition depot associated with the [[Royal Arsenal]] at [[Woolwich]]. Between the wars they were used for [[mushroom]] cultivation and in [[World War II|World War 2]] they were used as an [[air raid shelter]] with electric lighting, a chapel and a hospital. Between the autumn of 1940 and the spring of 1941, the caves sheltered over 15,000 people every night. |
||
In the [[1960s]], the caves were used a music venue. [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Pink Floyd]] all performed there. More recently, some of the tunnels have been used by the [[live action role-playing game]] "[[Labyrinthe]]". |
In the [[1960s]], the caves were used a music venue. [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Pink Floyd]] all performed there. In October [[1974]] a lavish media party was held there to celebrate the launch of new UK record company [[Swan Song Records]] by the band [[Led Zeppelin]]. More recently, some of the tunnels have been used by the [[live action role-playing game]] "[[Labyrinthe]]". |
||
The caves were featured on the television programme [[Seven Natural Wonders]] as one of the wonders of the London area, in an episode presented by [[Bill Oddie]]. |
|||
==Mythology== |
==Mythology== |
||
Revision as of 14:19, 5 June 2006
Chislehurst Caves are a series of 22 miles of tunnels in Chislehurst, in the south eastern suburbs of Greater London. Although called caves they are actually chalk and flint mine workings.
The earliest mention of the mines is circa 1250 and they are last believed to have been worked in the 1830s. In the First World War they were used as an ammunition depot associated with the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. Between the wars they were used for mushroom cultivation and in World War 2 they were used as an air raid shelter with electric lighting, a chapel and a hospital. Between the autumn of 1940 and the spring of 1941, the caves sheltered over 15,000 people every night.
In the 1960s, the caves were used a music venue. Status Quo, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd all performed there. In October 1974 a lavish media party was held there to celebrate the launch of new UK record company Swan Song Records by the band Led Zeppelin. More recently, some of the tunnels have been used by the live action role-playing game "Labyrinthe".
The caves were featured on the television programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the London area, in an episode presented by Bill Oddie.
Mythology
In
. This theory was used to give names to the three parts of the caves. Today on guided tours visitors have Druid altars pointed out to them and comments about Roman features. However this can at best be speculation as the earliest evidence for mining is 1250 AD.However these stories proved attractive to tourists and the increase in tourists led to the mines being used as a music venue.
