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© Saddleworth Archaeological Trust , 2007 |
The Caves and Pot Holes in Saddleworth
Throughout history man and animals have lived in caves, for example Creswell Crags in Derbyshire and the Victoria Cave in Yorkshire to mention two. Saddleworth has three known ‘caves’ but no evidence of occupation by man or animal is known. Perhaps the best known of the Saddleworth caves is Fairy Holes which is to be found on the summit of Alderman’s Hill. A Victorian account of the exploration of Fairy Holes is to be
found in Bradbury’s book Saddleworth Sketches published in 1871. It records an account of a descent by a Mr Robinson in 1871.
The entrance is about fifty yards from the summit of the rock on the top of the hill, rather north, descending a few yards. We lighted our candles, it being quite calm; the entrance for about six or seven yards is rather straight, with a vaulted roof, and is called Piccadilly, until it gives a turn or winding assuming the name of Dolby Street, when it descends almost perpendicularly for a considerable length. When we arrived at the bottom we came to a broad passage called Cupids Alley; it has two passages,
The entrance is about fifty yards from the summit of the rock on the top of the hill, rather north, descending a few yards. We lighted our candles, it being quite calm; the entrance for about six or seven yards is rather straight, with a vaulted roof, and is called Piccadilly, until it gives a turn or winding assuming the name of Dolby Street, when it descends almost perpendicularly for a considerable length. When we arrived at the bottom we came to a broad passage called Cupids Alley; it has two passages,
one of which we came to a corner that is rather dangerous.. Here are projecting rocks about twelve feet high, and rather difficult of ascent. Arriving at the top, we found the road very good for a considerable way; then descending, and turning back to the right, under a large heap of rocks, to the same place where we had ascended the rocks at the corner, the passage became rather straight for some yards and then opened to a deep, dreary chasm called the devils cellar. The rocks
on both sides are almost perpendicular, and nearly parallel to each other. We proceeded down the cavern until we came to the bottom, and finding the rocks lay upon the shoal, which was a plain indication that we were at the bottom of the subterranean vault, we returned back and measured the road, and taking the angles, the result was, from the bottom to the top 45 yards, and about 30 yards perpendicular from the surface of the earth
