Rabbit hole leads to '700-year-old' cave network with links to Knights Templar
Forget Wonderland, this rabbit hole in Shropshire leads to an amazing ‘700-year-old’ cave network believed to be linked to the Knights Templar.
The unassuming hole leads to caves which are hidden less than a metre beneath a farmers field.
Legend has it that the Caynton Caves, near the town of Shifnal, date back to the 1300s, when they were used by the Knights Templars – an order of Christian missionaries that fought in the crusades.
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Historic England thinks not, however, saying the caves were most likely constructed as recently as the late 18th or early 19th century.
The body responsible for England’s historic environment says the site – or grotto – appears to have been used for black magic rites in recent times.
Photographer Michael Scott, from Birmingham, set out in search of the historical wonder after seeing a video of it online.
The 33-year-old said: “I traipsed over a field to find it, but if you didn’t know it was there you would just walk right past it.
“It’s probably less than a metre underground, so it’s more into the field than under it.
“Considering how long it’s been there it’s in amazing condition, it’s like an underground temple.”
The tunnel leads to a network of walkways which are described as being “completely untouched”, and filled with beautifully carved arches.
Not surprisingly, it’s quite cramped down there, and anyone close to 6ft would have to bend down to fit in.
Michael said: “I had to crouch down and once I was in it was completely silent.
“There were a few spiders in there but that was it. It was raining so the slope down was quite sludgy but inside the cave was bone dry.”
It’s believed that the caves were closed to the public in 2012 after a spate of vandalism, though they’ve since reopened.
