Building record 1323200000 - THE CAVE, WEST WYCOMBE

Summary

Eighteenth century man-made caves with ornamental entrance, known as the Hell-fire Caves.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Listed Building (II*) 1332393: THE CAVE (DBC6074)

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Type and Period (2)

  • CAVE (Constructed 1750-1752, 18th Century - 1700 AD to 1799 AD)
  • FOLLY (Constructed 1750-1752, 18th Century - 1700 AD to 1799 AD)

Description

Grade II+. 1750-52. One of the landscape features of Sir Francis Dashwood's C18 scheme embracing park and hillsides. U shaped retaining walls of flint rubble forming entrance to manmade caves running for about ¼ of a mile under the hill. Yard partly obscured by modern wood hut occupying one third to ½ of yard area. Walls have gables and pinnacles, round and pointed arched niches. Pointed arched doorway to caves. Supposed scene of Hell-Fire Club meetings (B1).
Background research and detailed topographic survey carried out by English Heritage between April 2000 and June 2001. See report for detail (B2-B4).
Conservation management plan (B5).

Sources (5)

  • <1>SBC3604 Bibliographic reference: DoE. 1973. LIST OF BUILDINGS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE: WYCOMBE DISTRICT: BOROUGH OF HIGH WYCOMBE. p78.
  • <2>SBC19995 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. West Wycombe Park Buckinghamshire - Part 1: Site History and Introduction. 1. pp27,33,36 Fig 5,6, 8,9,11.
  • <3>SBC19996 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. West Wycombe Park Buckinghamshire - Part II: The Earthwork Surveys. 2. p89.
  • <4>SBC19998 Graphic material: English Heritage. 2000. West Wycombe Park: detailed plans of Pleasure Grounds, Wider Parkland and Church Hill. 1:2500. Fig 18.
  • <5>SBC23229 Unpublished document: Parklands Consortium Ltd. 2008. West Wycombe Park: Historic Landscape Management Plan.

Location

Grid reference SU 82941 94810 (point)
Civil Parish HIGH WYCOMBE, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Event - Survey: Detailed topographic survey and background research (EBC16386)
  • Event - Survey: Site visit (EBC13570)

Record last edited

Dec 4 2008 4:08PM

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