Discover Britain's most spectacular underground caves
Somerset is a land of mysteries renowned for its stone circles and monuments (including Stonehenge), crossing ley lines and Arthurian legends and of course, Wookey Hole - an underground world where pagan and Christian legends intertwine.
When you visit Wookey Hole Caves your guide will describe the prehistoric history of the caves as home to both humans and animals. Archaeological finds show man has lived in the caves for 50,000 years! The bones of tropical and Ice Age animals, such as rhinoceros, bear, mammoth and lion, were found there, along with flint tools.
전설에 따르면 암흑기에 한 마리 개와 몇 마리 염소를 기르며 동굴에 혼자 살던 나이든 여성이 있습니다. "마을에 잘못된 일이 생기면 항상 모두들 그녀를 탓했으며, " 지역민들은 그녀가 저주를 내리고 불운을 부르는 마녀라고 믿었답니다.
Eventually, the people asked for help from the Abbot at nearby Glastonbury Abbey. 수도원은 버나드 신부(Father Bernard)를 보내어 마녀의 악령을 쫓고자 하였습니다. 버나드 신부는 성경책 한 권과 양초 하나만 들고 동굴로 들어갔습니다.
In the faint light he saw the witch stooping over her cooking pot. He tried to talk to her, but screaming curses and casting spells, she fled deeper into the cave down a narrow passageway called Hell’s Ladder.
The brave monk followed her and they met again in the shadowy depths of an inner cavern. Quickly, Father Bernard scooped up a handful of water from the river, blessed it and threw it over the witch. "그녀는 즉시 돌로 변하였는데, 굳은 모습이 아직도 동굴에 남아 ‘마녀의 부엌(The Witch’s Kitchen)’으로 불립니다."
Apart from the witches remains, all sorts of archaeological finds have been discovered within the mysterious depths of Wookey Hole. Many of these are now on display at the nearby Wells City Museum, but most were retained and are now housed in Wookey Hole Cave’s very own museum.
A visit to Wookey Hole is a journey into the underbelly of the world with natural formations so unique, you’ll be amazed before you have time to be scared. See Wookey Hole for more visitor information.