Jack Cade's Cavern
The Jack Cade's Cavern is a cave with extensive tunnel junctions in Blackheath south-east of London and south-west of Greenwich Park .
history
The cave was rediscovered in 1780. According to historical records, it was used and expanded by the rebel leader Jack Cade as a shelter and cave in the early 1450s.
The main cave is roughly circular and around 35 meters in diameter. There are numerous other winding passageways with smaller chambers that are lined with stone masonry and connected to the main cave. The lowest point is around 170 meters below the surface. The main entrance was at the end of a series of small cottages and houses called "Cavern Cottages" at the back of Trinity Church on Blackheath Hill that were destroyed in World War II.
In April 2002 the road collapsed in the main street of Blackheath Hill, the big hole caused traffic chaos. It has been suggested that this was caused by the original cave systems. Jack Cade's Cavern is no longer accessible due to the risk of collapse.
Web links
- Jack Cade's Cavern on thegreenwichphantom.co.uk
Individual evidence
- ^ "Jack Cade" was the leader of a popular revolt in the 1450 Kent rebellion which took place in the time of King Henry VI.
- ↑ Blackheath Caverns from Guide to Knowledge No. 88, 7 December 1833, p.681, edited by W. Pinnock, London, 1833
- ^ The Archaeological mine, antiquarian nuggets relating to Kent by AJ Dunkin, Vol. 1 No. 7, 1855
- ↑ Caverns Found At Blackheath Air-Raid Shelters Ready Made, The Times, Oct 27, 1939, p. 5, col B
- ↑ The location of the last known entrance to Jack Cade's Caverns
Coordinates: 51 ° 28 '23.9 " N , 0 ° 0' 40.3" W.