Peak Cavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peak Cavern |
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Peak Cavern entrance
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| Location | Castleton, Derbyshire |
| Geology | Limestone |
The Peak Cavern is a famous cave in Castleton, Derbyshire, England. It's one of four "show caves" in the area, meaning it's open for visitors to explore. A river called Peakshole Water flows right through the cave and out of its huge entrance. In fact, its entrance is the biggest cave entrance in Britain!
Exploring Peak Cavern
Unlike many other show caves nearby, Peak Cavern is almost completely natural. Only a small part was made by people. This part was blasted to get past a very low tunnel. Before this, people had to lie down in a boat to get through!
This cave system is the largest in the Peak District. Its main entrance is truly massive, making it the biggest cave entrance in Britain. For a long time, until 1915, people actually lived inside the cave's mouth. These people were sometimes called "troglodytes," which means "cave dwellers." They made ropes for a living. The deeper parts of the cave were once known as a hiding place for outlaws. Legend says that a secret language, called "thieves' cant," was invented here. This happened when a famous outlaw leader, Cock Lorel, met Giles Hather, the King of the Gypsies.
Several paths lead from the cave's entrance, which is called "The Vestibule." The only path open to visitors is "Lumbago Walk." It got this name because most adults have to bend over to walk through it! The tour continues through two main caverns: "The Great Cave" and "Roger Rain's House." After that, you enter a passage called "Pluto's Dining Room." This is the furthest point visitors can go today.
Before 1990, the tour was much longer. It went down "The Devil's Staircase" to "Halfway House." Then, a raised path crossed an underground stream called "Inner Styx" using wooden bridges. It continued under "Five Arches" to another part of the cave. This lower section often floods, especially in winter. Because of this, it needed a lot of cleaning and repairs every year.
In the 1980s, there was a worry about a natural gas called radon. This gas was found in the lower parts of the cave. Because of the gas and the hard work needed to keep the path safe, the "Five Arches" part of the tour was closed in 1989. The BBC filmed The Chronicles of Narnia here in the same year. Even though it's closed to the public, experienced cavers can still explore this area. Over time, efforts have been made to return this part of the cave to its natural state. This means removing the old wooden bridges that visitors once used.
From "Five Arches," other routes are open to cavers. One main path leads to "Victoria Aven," which is a large vertical shaft. It then goes to "Far Sump," and beyond that is the Far Sump Extension. This area was first explored in 1980. However, it was hard to reach, so not many discoveries were made. In 1996, new routes opened from Speedwell Cavern and James Hall's Over Engine Mine. This made it easier to explore. In 1999, "Titan Shaft" was discovered. At 141.5 meters (464 feet) deep, it is the deepest vertical shaft in Britain!
The Cave's Name
Historically, this cave was known as "The Devil's Arse." This name was used in a book called Britannia by William Camden in 1586.
A philosopher named Thomas Hobbes called the cavern one of the Seven Wonders of the Peak. He wrote about it in his 1636 book, De Mirabilibus Pecci: Being The Wonders of the Peak in Darby-shire, Commonly called The Devil's Arse of Peak.
Daniel Defoe also used the old name in his book A tour thro' the whole island of Great Britain (1724–26). He wrote about "the so famed wonder call'd, saving our good manners, The Devil's A—e in the Peak'." He also mentioned a story about a shepherd.
The cave's name was changed to "Peak Cavern" in 1880. This was done to avoid offending Queen Victoria when she visited for a concert. More recently, the cave has sometimes been promoted using its older name. The name "Devil's Arse" might have come from the strange, gassy noises heard inside the cave when floodwater drains away.
Events and Concerts
Peak Cavern has become a popular place for concerts. Famous musicians like Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley, and The Vaccines have performed here. In 2013, the cave operators started holding more concerts and events. This was a way to bring in new visitors and income.
In 2013, the cavern was turned into a cinema for the Sheffield Doc/Fest. Five hundred people watched a film called The Summit here. This event was so successful that during Doc/Fest 2014, films were shown every night. These included Happiness and Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
Images for kids
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Peak Cavern entrance
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A map of Peak Cavern from 1834
See also
In Spanish: Caverna de Peak para niños
