Tilly Whim Caves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tilly Whim Caves |
|
|---|---|
Tilly Whim quarry and caves, from the coast path
|
|
| Location | Durlston Country Park, 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck, in Dorset, southern England |
| Geology | Mesozoic Limestone |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Closed to the public |
Tilly Whim Caves are actually three old stone quarries located in Durlston Country Park. You can find them about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Swanage, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, southern England. These caves are a cool part of the famous Jurassic Coast, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The name "Tilly Whim" might come from a quarry worker named George Tilly. The "Whim" part could refer to a simple wooden crane used back then to lift heavy stones. These cranes were also called 'derricks' or 'gibbets'. There's also a field nearby called 'Tilly Mead', which might be another clue to the name's origin.
The Story of Tilly Whim Caves
Tilly Whim Caves were once busy limestone quarries. Most of the work happened during the 1700s. Workers dug out a special kind of limestone called Purbeck Stone from these caves. This stone was very valuable.
Quarrymen used simple tools like metal punches, wedges, and hammers. They split the rock into blocks right from the cliff face. These workers were also skilled stonemasons. They shaped most of the stone right there in the quarry. They made building blocks or finished items like troughs and sinks.
To move the heavy stone, they used a "whim." This was a special wooden crane. It lowered the finished stonework from the quarry ledges to boats below. These boats either took the stone directly to Swanage Quay or transferred it to larger sailing ships.
Purbeck stone was used a lot during the Napoleonic Wars. It helped build strong forts along the south coast of England. But when the war ended, people didn't need as much stone. So, the quarries closed down. No stone has been dug from these caves since 1812.
In 1887, George Burt opened Tilly Whim caves as a fun place for tourists to visit. It was part of his Durlston estate. However, in 1976, the caves were completely closed to the public. This was because of falling rocks, making the caves too dangerous.
Today, the caves are a quiet home for bats. The cliffs and ledges are also nesting spots for seabirds. The area around Tilly Whim is a great place to spot marine animals. You might see grey seals and even dolphins. People still enjoy fishing and "tombstoning" (jumping into the water) in the area.
Famous Visitors to the Caves
The famous poet T. S. Eliot visited the Tilly Whim Caves in 1914. He was studying at Merton College, Oxford, at the time.
