The site comprises two caves, called 'Banwell Bone Cave' and 'Banwell Stalactite Cave', which lie within the grounds of a large house, at the western end of Banwell Hill. The caves contain barite deposits, which are found in greater abundance and variety here than at any other site in the Mendip Hills, and are used as a hibernation site by greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum).[1]
The site also has several grottos and follies, including the Pebble summerhouse, Druid's Temple, an osteoicon (or bone repository) and Banwell Tower which was completed in 1840.[2]
The first cave to be discovered was the Stalactite Cave in 1757. This was opened in 1824 as a show cave to raise money for the local school. In an attempt to make access easier, a tunnel was dug into the hill during which the bone cave was discovered in 1825.
The estate was owned by George Henry Law as Bishop of Bath and Wells, who thought the bones which were found were those of animals drowned in the flood at the time of Noah's Ark described in the Book of Genesis. The bishop had paths and folly buildings created for visitors and built a small cottage, which later became his retirement home.
Since the 1970s, preservation and restoration work has been undertaken.
Bone Caveedit
Banwell Bone Cave is 100 m (328 ft) long and 20 m (66 ft) deep. The Bone Cavern itself is 8 m (26 ft) high and wide and 20 m long. It is approached through an early 19th-century archway.[3] It contains an assemblage of bones of mammals (including bear, deer, ox, bison and reindeer) from the Pleistocene era (approximately 80,000 years ago).[4][5] The cave has a large hole in the roof and is believed to have been used as a pitfall trap.
The Bone Cave was discovered in 1824 during attempts to drive a horizontal passage into the Stalactite Cave. Archaeological excavation was carried out by William Beard, with some of the bones being removed, but many being left in the cave in stacks.[5][6]
Stalactite Caveedit
Banwell Stalactite Cave is 240 m (787 ft) long and 75 m (246 ft) deep. Although no stream now runs through the cave, there is a deep lake in one of the chambers.[5] The Stalactite Cave was entered by miners in 1757,[4] and was a show cave between about 1824 and 1864.[7]
Banwell Toweredit
Banwell Tower
The 18-metre (59 ft) high, three-stage tower, which is also known as the Banwell Monument or Banwell Pepperpot, was built in 1840 from local lias stone with some decoration in Bath stone. During World War II, it was used as a lookout tower by the Home Guard.[2] By the 1960s it was in a poor state of repair and could no longer be seen above the growing treetops. Local conservation groups undertook conservation work, and it was reopened to the public in 1996. It is a Grade II listed building.[8]
^"Banwell Monument". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
External linksedit
Banwell Caves Heritage Group
Mendip Cave Registry and Archive: Banwell Caves
January 01, 1970
banwell, caves, grid, reference, st383588, hectare, geological, biological, site, special, scientific, interest, near, village, banwell, north, somerset, england, notified, 1963, site, special, scientific, interestthe, druid, temple, entrance, archway, bone, c. Banwell Caves grid reference ST383588 are a 1 7 hectare geological and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Banwell North Somerset England notified in 1963 Banwell CavesSite of Special Scientific InterestThe Druid s Temple and entrance archway to the Bone CaveLocation within SomersetLocationAvonGrid referenceST383588Coordinates51 19 30 N 2 53 13 W 51 3249 N 2 8869 W 51 3249 2 8869InterestBiological GeologicalArea1 7 ha 4 2 acres Notification1963 1963 Natural England website Banwell Bone CaveLocationBanwellDepth25mLength92mGeologyLimestoneCave surveyMendip Cave Registry amp Archive 1 and 2 Banwell Stalactite CaveLocationBanwellDepth62mLength271mGeologyLimestoneCave surveyMendip Cave Registry amp Archive 1 and 2 The site comprises two caves called Banwell Bone Cave and Banwell Stalactite Cave which lie within the grounds of a large house at the western end of Banwell Hill The caves contain barite deposits which are found in greater abundance and variety here than at any other site in the Mendip Hills and are used as a hibernation site by greater horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum 1 The site also has several grottos and follies including the Pebble summerhouse Druid s Temple an osteoicon or bone repository and Banwell Tower which was completed in 1840 2 Contents 1 History 2 Bone Cave 3 Stalactite Cave 4 Banwell Tower 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe first cave to be discovered was the Stalactite Cave in 1757 This was opened in 1824 as a show cave to raise money for the local school In an attempt to make access easier a tunnel was dug into the hill during which the bone cave was discovered in 1825 The estate was owned by George Henry Law as Bishop of Bath and Wells who thought the bones which were found were those of animals drowned in the flood at the time of Noah s Ark described in the Book of Genesis The bishop had paths and folly buildings created for visitors and built a small cottage which later became his retirement home Since the 1970s preservation and restoration work has been undertaken Bone Cave editBanwell Bone Cave is 100 m 328 ft long and 20 m 66 ft deep The Bone Cavern itself is 8 m 26 ft high and wide and 20 m long It is approached through an early 19th century archway 3 It contains an assemblage of bones of mammals including bear deer ox bison and reindeer from the Pleistocene era approximately 80 000 years ago 4 5 The cave has a large hole in the roof and is believed to have been used as a pitfall trap The Bone Cave was discovered in 1824 during attempts to drive a horizontal passage into the Stalactite Cave Archaeological excavation was carried out by William Beard with some of the bones being removed but many being left in the cave in stacks 5 6 Stalactite Cave editBanwell Stalactite Cave is 240 m 787 ft long and 75 m 246 ft deep Although no stream now runs through the cave there is a deep lake in one of the chambers 5 The Stalactite Cave was entered by miners in 1757 4 and was a show cave between about 1824 and 1864 7 Banwell Tower edit nbsp Banwell Tower The 18 metre 59 ft high three stage tower which is also known as the Banwell Monument or Banwell Pepperpot was built in 1840 from local lias stone with some decoration in Bath stone During World War II it was used as a lookout tower by the Home Guard 2 By the 1960s it was in a poor state of repair and could no longer be seen above the growing treetops Local conservation groups undertook conservation work and it was reopened to the public in 1996 It is a Grade II listed building 8 See also editBanwell Ochre Caves Caves of the Mendip HillsReferences edit Banwell Caves PDF English Nature Retrieved 9 July 2006 a b Holt Jonathan 2007 Somerset Follies Bath Akeman Press pp 2 5 ISBN 978 0 9546138 7 7 Bone Cave entrance historicengland org uk English Heritage Retrieved 12 September 2009 a b Mendip caves Western Mendip British Geological Survey 2008 Retrieved 6 February 2009 a b c Irwin David John Knibbs Anthony J 1999 Mendip Underground A Cavers Guide Bat Products ISBN 0 9536103 0 6 Banwell Bone Cavern Mendip Cave Registry amp Archive Banwell Stalactite Cave Mendip Cave Registry amp Archive Banwell Monument historicengland org uk English Heritage Retrieved 12 September 2009 External links editBanwell Caves Heritage Group Mendip Cave Registry and Archive Banwell Caves Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Banwell Caves amp oldid 1176835669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
