Jack Cade's Cavern facts for kids
Jack Cade's Cavern is a fascinating underground cave system located in Blackheath, a part of south-east London, England. These caverns stretch for hundreds of feet beneath the ground. You can find them mostly under the lawn of Hollymount Close, near Greenwich Park.
These caves were found again around the year 1780, after being hidden for a long time. They are also known as the Blackheath Caverns. The original entrance was once located behind Trinity Church on Blackheath Hill. Sadly, the cottages that marked the entrance were destroyed during WWII.
Exploring Jack Cade's Cavern
Imagine going deep underground! To enter Jack Cade's Cavern, you would have walked down about forty steps. Inside, the cavern system is made up of three or more separate cave rooms. These rooms are connected by winding tunnels.
The first main room is mostly round. It measures about 35 feet across, which is like the length of a school bus. From this main room, you can go into another large chamber. This second room is about 60 feet long and 30 feet wide.
Deep Passages and Hidden Wells
A long, winding passage leads you to a third chamber. This room is about 24 feet by 31 feet. The ceiling height changes quite a bit, from about 6 feet tall to over 11 feet tall.
Inside this chamber, there is a well that once held pure water. It was originally about 27 feet deep. However, when it was checked in 1939, the well was found to be about 21 feet deep and completely dry. Parts of the well were lined with bricks. At its lowest point, the cavern system is about 170 feet below the surface of the ground. That's like going down the height of a 17-story building!
See also
In Spanish: Caverna de Jack Cade para niños
