Tilly Whim Caves
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
Tilly Whim Caves | |
---|---|
Map showing location of Tilly Whim Caves in Dorset. | |
Location | Durlston Country Park, 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck, in Dorset, southern England |
Coordinates | 50°35′33″N 1°57′27″W / 50.592511°N 1.957519°W |
Geology | Mesozoic Limestone |
Entrances | 1 |
Access | Closed to the public |
Tilly Whim Caves consists of three stone quarries in Durlston Country Park, 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck, in Dorset, southern England. The Tilly Whim Caves are a part of the Jurassic Coast.
The name "Tilly Whim" may have been derived from a former quarryman, George Tilly, and the type of primitive wooden crane used at the time, known as a "whim",[1] also called a derrick or gibbet. However, Tilly Whim lies at the southern end of the Manor of Eightholds and there is a common field called Tilly Mead at the northern end of the estate.[2]
History
Tilly Whim Caves were
Purbeck stone was used extensively during the Napoleonic wars for building fortifications along the entire south coast of England. As the war ended, however, the demand for stone slumped and the quarries were closed. The caves have not been quarried since 1812.[4] In 1887 George Burt opened Tilly Whim caves as a tourist attraction for his Durlston estate. In 1976 the caves were closed to the public completely, being considered too dangerous due to rock falls.
Today the caves are an undisturbed roost for bats. The cliffs and ledges are nesting grounds for seabirds. The area surrounding Tilly Whim is also a look out point for marine life, including grey seals and dolphins. However, the area is still popular with fishermen and "
Notable visitors
The poet T. S. Eliot visited the Tilly Whim Caves in 1914 while studying at Merton College, Oxford.[5]
References
- ISBN 9781871680416.
- ISBN 0-905868-19-6
- ISBN 1-86077-311-7
- ISBN 0951367617
- ^ Brand Blanshard, "Eliot at Oxford", T. S. Eliot: Essays from the "Southern Review" (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989), ed. James Olney, p. 32.