Thor's Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thor's Cave |
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| Thyrsis's Cavern | |
Thor's Cave from the Manifold Way
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| Location | Manifold Valley, Staffordshire |
| Length | 150 feet (46 m) |
| Elevation | 870 feet (265 m) |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Entrances | 2 |
| Difficulty | Grade I |
Thor's Cave is a cool natural cave found in the Manifold Valley in Staffordshire, England. It's part of the White Peak area. This cave is a type called a Karst cave, which means it formed in limestone rock.
The cave is located in a steep limestone cliff. Its main entrance is a big, symmetrical arch, about 7.5 metres (25 feet) wide and 10 metres (33 feet) high. You can easily see it from the valley floor, which is about 80 metres (260 feet) below.
Getting to Thor's Cave is quite easy! There's a stepped path from the Manifold Way, which used to be an old railway line. Because it's so easy to reach and offers amazing views of the Manifold Valley, it's a very popular place for tourists to visit. There's also a second entrance to the cave, known as the "West Window." Below this is another cave called Thor's Fissure Cavern.
The old railway line that once served Thor's Cave was called the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway. It operated from 1904 to 1934. Today, this disused line has been turned into the Manifold Way, a path perfect for walking and cycling.
What's in a Name?
The exact reason for the name "Thor's Cave" isn't fully known. One idea is that it comes from the word "tor," which means a rocky hill or peak.
Some people have suggested a link to the Norse god Thor, or to the ancient Germanic paganism practiced by early Anglo-Saxons. However, there isn't much proof to support these ideas. Other theories include that the name might come from old, forgotten English dialect words, or even from obscure English saints.
Who Lived Here?
Thor's Cave and the nearby Thor's Fissure Cavern have a long history of human use! Archaeologists dug here in the 1860s and again in the 1920s and 1930s. They found some amazing things.
Inside the caves, they discovered:
- Human and animal bones
- Stone tools
- Pottery pieces
- Beautiful amber beads
- Items made of bronze
It's believed that at least seven people were buried in these caves. The finds suggest that people started using the cavern towards the end of the Stone Age. It was used even more often during the Iron Age and when the Romans were in Britain.
Climbing Adventures
Thor's Cave is a popular spot for rock climbers. People started exploring and climbing here in the early 1950s, with famous climbers like Joe Brown leading the way.
The BMC lists eleven climbing routes on the limestone walls of the cave. These routes have different difficulty levels, from Very Severe to E7. Some of the routes even have bolts drilled into the rock to help climbers.
Thor's Cave in Movies and Music
This cool cave has even appeared in films and music videos!
- It was used in the 1993 music video for the song "Blue" by the band The Verve.
- The cave is also featured on the front cover of The Verve's first album, A Storm in Heaven.
- Thor's Cave was a filming location for the 1988 movie The Lair of the White Worm. This film was directed by Ken Russell and starred Hugh Grant.
