The Cave of Vortigern Margate, Kent 11/12-02/13

[wevsky]

Visited with Obscurity Stealth SpaceInvader UrbanGinger and Fortknox0 and on two different visits

Nice to get back in here with a dslr as last time was early days and a camera fone,its not huge but was worth going back for a better look

The origins of these caves, which are not natural but built by man, is shrouded in mystery. The caves may take their name from Vortigern, who supposedly gave the area around Margate to the Saxons as a reward for helping him fight the Picts and Scots. Rediscovered by accident in 1798, the caves are considered by some to be of Saxon origin, consisting of a series of natural passages, which have been artificially enlarged. However, few experts think these 'artificial cavities' (as they are called) go back that far. The first time they appear in history is fairly recent. The guide book would have the visitor believe that the caves are over a 1000 years old and possible even of Phoenician origin! The more likely explanation would perhaps be a more modest medieval origin, or even a Georgian folly. Locally they put the Shell Grotto down as a Victorian folly built at a time when the local shell fish industry would have produced enough shells for them to be freely available (being a by-product).

Somewhere near the close of the 18th Century, a man of eccentric habits, named Francis Forster, built a large house in Margate which he named after the county of his birth - Northumberland House. In or about the year 1798 his gardener, digging behind the house, made the discovery of the Caves. A private entrance was cut. It was during this time that the cave murals were created. In 1914, a new entrance was made from the cellar of the vicarage and this is the entrance used today.


On with some pics

Quick map

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/margatecaves.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_00301.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0029.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0023.jpg http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_00181.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0028.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0020.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0017.jpg http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0004.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0029-1.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0011.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0023-1.jpg http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0009.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0008.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0014.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/wevsky/Margate%20Caves%20November%202012/DSC_0028-1.jpg
Not a huge place but was nice to revisit after it being not possible for such a while

[coops]

Good stuff mate :thumb

[Clough]

Looks good, like the drawings. If they did em now would just be a load of cocks everywhere

[wevsky]

Looks good, like the drawings. If they did em now would just be a load of cocks everywhere

Yeah thats about the mentality of "art" these days

[Rebel]

Was this a permission visit or is the vicarage abondoned? Like the murials, they must have been created by someone well travelled.

[wevsky]

The vicarage is long gone mate and built on then recently demo'd and rebuilt on again..this is still under discussion as tyo if it can be made safer and reopened so no mate not with permission

[wevsky]

And the old entrance is long backfilled and sealed as on map it shows its no longer reachable

[ROYALBOB]

Interesting stuff wevs, nice one.

[yorkietommo]

Mint. Love the look of this.

[birdinanaviary]

quite nice this is wevs :thumb

[wevsky]

quite nice this is wevs :thumb

Caves not huge but gave me chance to play with new torch ,well a bit easier 2nd visit with just two of us ;)

[boxerheaven]

was just going to ask did you take the new torch ;)

[wevsky]

was just going to ask did you take the new torch ;)

Who me,buy a new torch nah its all a lie :)

[boxerheaven]

must have the wrong guy lol

[wevsky]

must have the wrong guy lol

:) new torch is rather good young lady