Clearwell Caves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clearwell |
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|---|---|
| Location | Clearwell, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Public |
| Lighting | Yes |
| Visitors | Yes |
| Features | Ochre. Lake |
Clearwell Caves is an amazing natural cave system. It is located in Clearwell in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. For a very long time, people dug here to find iron ore. Today, it is mostly a working mining museum where you can learn about its history.
These caves are also a special place for nature. They are part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest because many rare lesser horseshoe bats live there. This special area includes Clearwell and other nearby old mines.
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Mining History at Clearwell Caves
Clearwell Caves is actually a group of five different mines. These are Clearwell, Old Ham, Lambsquay, Old Bow, and New Dun. Together, they cover a large area of about 230 acres. The caves themselves were formed by underground streams over 180 million years ago.
What Was Mined Here?
People started mining here a very long time ago, even in the late Stone Age. Back then, they dug for ochre, which is a natural colored earth. Later, during the Iron Age, around 100 BC, they began mining for iron ore. This mining increased a lot during Roman times and especially in the 1800s. All this digging made the natural caves much bigger.
The mines were very famous for their ochre. People have been mining ochre here for over 4,500 years! The ochre from Clearwell is still used today by artists as natural colors. It is washed and ground into fine powders. You can find many shades, from golden yellow to different reds. Clearwell is one of the few places in the world where you can find a deep purple ochre.
Exploring the Mines Today
Today, ten well-lit chambers are easy for visitors to explore. These areas have interesting displays that show what mining was like. There is also a small museum, a shop, and a café.
If you are more adventurous, you can go deeper into the mines. However, you need an experienced guide and special caving equipment to stay safe. The upper parts of the caves are open for everyone to visit.
Fun Activities and Filming Locations
Parts of Clearwell Caves first opened to the public in 1968. Ray Wright started this, and now his son, Jonathan Wright, manages the caves. Jonathan is a "Freeminer," which means he still mines ochre from the caves today.
Since the 1980s, the caves have been used for many fun events. They become a Santa's Grotto at Christmas time. People also enjoy Easter egg hunts and even music concerts there. One large chamber is big enough to host a Halloween Party for over 300 people!
Clearwell Caves on Screen
Clearwell Caves is a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows. Several episodes of the famous British science fiction show Doctor Who were filmed here. These include "The Christmas Invasion" (2005), "The Satan Pit" (2006), and "Time of the Angels" / "Flesh and Stone" (2010).
All the underground scenes for the BBC series "Merlin" were filmed in these caves. The caves have also been used for other science fiction shows, like Blake's 7 - Horizon. They were featured in children's series such as "The Changes", "The Jensen Code", and "Kidnapped". More recently, the caves appeared in episodes of Britannia, Cursed, His Dark Materials, Willow (TV series), The Winter King, and the Channel 4 comedy series The Change.
Reported Paranormal Activity
Over the years, some people have reported strange things happening at Clearwell Caves. These include sightings of an old miner. Visitors have also reported hearing sounds of metal clanging, footsteps, and pickaxes working in the distance.
See also
- Old Bow And Old Ham Mines
