Victorian Prudery Revisited...

[John Parry]

When William Peveril, one of Willie the Conk's favourite knights (and the original Sheriff of Nottingham), put up a castle on top of a soaring cliff in Derbyshire it got mentioned in the Domesday Book as being located above a notable cave. The cave was famous, not for its size (although the entrance is the largest in the country), but for the noises it makes.



A couple of hundred feet down the cave is a huge sinkhole, and whenever the cave floods, the water forms a whirlpool and flows down a giant plughole. The accompanying noises are somewhat similar to those of a domestic bath, but amplified to gargantuan proportions. And by the time they emerged from the cave mouth they sounded like a giant having acute flatulence problems. The cave therefore acquired a somewhat unfortunate name.

In 1841, Queen Victoria visited the cave, but the rather earthy name was thought to be inapppropriate for the young monarch's delicate ears so the name was changed to the far more respectable 'Peak Cavern'. At that time, the first part of the cave was separated from the inner reaches by a low-lying sump that was half full of water. Surprisingly, Queen Victoria submitted to lying flat in a boat, and being pushed by swimmers to the other side.



The cave, in the centre of the Peak District, was at the heart of the local lead mining industry, although no lead was ever found in the cave itself. Instead, the locals set up a rope manufacturing industry inside the cave itself to supply the local mines. They lived within the cave entrance, and the roof is covered with the soot from their hearth fires.



The inner history of the cave is even darker. Outlaw bands were reputed to have lived in the deeper parts of the cave, and of course there is the usual association with Robin Hood and his Merry Men. I discount this for the simple reason that it would have been too cold down there in those tights.

The only person entitled to enter the cave without payment of an entrance fee is the Queen. She owns the cave in her capacity as Duke of Lancaster (as the reigning monarch has done ever since 1485). Royal spokespersons seem to have been reticent about the renaming of the cave from the 'Peak Cavern' to the original 'Devil's Arse'

Regards - John

[PeterW]

Nice pictures and a nice story, John. I'm not surprised that a young Queen Victoria lay flat in a boat to be pushed through into the main part of the cave.

By some accounts she was, as a young lady, quite strong-willed and adventurous, fond of parties that went on well into the night and sometimes tended to get a shade wild in the Regency tradition. Later, as the young Queen, she had to be reminded of her position and dissuaded from joining in some things by her advisers who were always in attendance.

The prudery came much later, after Albert persuaded her that many things, though maybe harmless enough, were not becoming to a Queen of England. I think much of Victorian prudery was inspired more by the upper classes and nouveau riche with their insistence on 'correct etiquette' than by the Queen herself before she became widowed and stayed in mourning far too long until pulled out of it by John Brown.

I suspect that had the cavern retained its original name she might, on that occasion, though perhaps not later, have declared that "we are amused". She might even have been so unregal as to have laughed out loud.

PeterW

[nikonbob]

John

Thanks for the narrative and photos not to mention a chuckle too. Looks to be a good place to visit.

Bob

[mickeyobe]

John,

Thank you for a great picture story and interesting narration.

For such a small island England is rife with fascinating places and things to see and in this case hear.

Mickey

[Michael Fraley]

Great story and accompanying photos -- thanks! My wife tells me that growing up here in San Francisco, there was a cave in the surrounding hills known to the local kids. Due to its unfortunate smell, it was known as 'A**hole Cave'... well, kids can be cruel!

[Just Plain Curt]

Been in the bowels of the earth a couple times (Jewel Cave in South Dakota and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico) but never in the Devil's Arse. Great story and nice photos.