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Post by Spooky on Jul 14, 2004 12:34:35 GMT
I am going to Chislehurst Caves on Saturday to have a look around and see what the place looks like. Having heard some interesting tales from people this year I am hoping it is going to be Hell Fires Daddy with over 20 miles of caves and passageways it sounds promising. If anybody is free and would like to come along they are more than welcome. Though I know its short notice and wont be offended. Im only going for a nose about. www.chislehurstcaves.co.uk/This is the location www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=543264&gridn=169559&title=Chislehurst+CavesS |
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Post by Spooky on Jul 14, 2004 16:09:00 GMT
Is there as ghost?
Given the long history of the caves, it is to be expected that there might be a ghost or two about the place. There are a lot of stories about possible ghosts, stories of a Roman centurion killed nearby, of sounds of children, of sightings of people, the sound of horses, etc. A woman is supposed to have been murdered and drowned in the 'haunted pool', and a priest is supposed to have died of fright after having been in the caves.
At one time, there was a prize of £5 offered to anyone who would sleep in the caves alone. Many people tried and eventually a policeman succeeded, however he said that he was aware of something behind him at one time and would not repeat the experience for any amount of money. Another person was found unconscious. These days, no-one is allowed to stay overnight in the caves, following an incident in which one of the guides was hurt.
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Post by Spooky on Jul 14, 2004 16:19:46 GMT
The temple was first discovered about 60 years ago by a Professor Nichols, one of the foremost archaeologists of his day. Now when he came into the temple in 1905 there was on the alter at that time a block of stone with the imprint of a human body in it. This imprint was the size of a boy or girl aged between 10 - 14. Now it is his belief that on a midsummer night's eve a number of Druids will go into one of the nearby villages and select a victim of this particular age group, bring them down into the caves and into this temple and tie them to the block of stone with their head at this end. They would then sever the jugular vein in the victim's neck with a bronze knife, collecting the blood in a small goblet placed on that ledge there. This blood would be offered up to their gods, and in their ceremonial robes the Druids would dance and chant up and down this, the longest and straightest passageway in the caves. Now altogether there are nine of these temples in the caves. We believe that this is the main sacrificial one as it is the only temple with a priest's chamber in it. This is cut with a semi-domed roof and in here the priest would stand throughout the entire ceremony. Now the reason for constructing these temples in a maze was that if a victim ever managed to escape, which was very rare indeed, he could obviously never find his way out again.
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Post by Spooky on Jul 14, 2004 16:38:12 GMT
Entering the Romans, 2,000 year old part of the caves. Now you will notice in the Roman section the different form of cave construction. The walls are much rougher, the ceiling is lower, and the caves themselves are almost semi-circular in form. Now the passageway we are about to go through leads to the haunted chamber. Now the chamber itself is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who was murdered in the caves about 180 years ago, and according to modern day spiritualists her ghost still walks and haunts this passageway. Now if you are feeling a little nervous the best thing not to do is to look over your shoulder.
" We are standing in the Haunted Chamber. The murder is supposed to have taken place about where that brick wall now stands. There was at one time a water hole into which this woman was pushed. I am afraid that it has long since been filled in. It is strange however that the murder is supposed to have taken place in this particular chamber for this is unique amongst the 22 miles of passageway. This is the only passageway without an echo. You will notice here that sound falls completely dead. You lose the echo as you come through the passageway just there, but you regain the echo immediately upon turning this corner here, and no-one has been able to explain this. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.
" Now a few years ago we used to issue a challenge to any person for the princely sum of five pounds to spend a night alone in the Haunted Chamber. The last person to take up this challenge spent the night just here surrounded by a ring of candles whittling at a piece of wood. It is his story that he had been here for about three hours at approximately 2 o-clock in the morning when he saw mist arising from the floor and on top of the mist the figure of a woman walking. At the same time all his candles went out. He was so terrified that he ran back towards the main entrance and in doing so he hit his head on one of the low passages. He was found unconscious the next morning just inside the main entrance. Ever since that time we have considered it unwise to let anyone else try and repeat the experience.
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Post by Spooky on Jul 14, 2004 16:50:32 GMT
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Post by Spooky on Jul 15, 2004 11:47:49 GMT
No worries as I said Im going down for a reccy and if anyone is at a loose end they are more than welcome.
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Post by Spooky on Jul 15, 2004 18:49:34 GMT
Okay slight change of venue we are now going to Chanctonbury to do base lines, take some pics and get a feel for the place. Sort of makes sense realy with only a fortnight to go..... So anyone feel like a day out there let us know.... You dont need to post if you cant make it. Makes it simpler  |
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Post by Spooky on Jul 19, 2004 9:44:02 GMT
After talking to people a visit to the caves is restricted to the 45 minute tour and the public are no longer permitted to wander off freely. If this is the case for private bookings I dont know but I would imagine there would still be restrictions due to the size of the place. So a little relieved I didnt go now.
So I think we can cross this one off the to do list unless we can set up a private gig and they let us off the lead without the hand holding.
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Taine
Spirit Light
Posts: 56
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Post by Taine on Jul 19, 2004 18:30:33 GMT
Hey Steven.
Ive been taking a look at the links you've put on about the Chislehurst Caves & I would suggest that you dont lose faith. We could possibly contact Croydon Caveing club. They may have some members that are interested in the paranormal therefore all we would have to do is ask them to ask nicely for us. You mentioned that people are no longer allowed to spend the night there. Do you know why? I dont think any of us will be passing out. They might have a safe there and no security guard. It would be interesting to see if we can get a response from them. A few prying questons wouldn't go a miss in this case.
Dont scratch it off the list yet!
Martin.
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Post by Spooky on Jul 19, 2004 18:48:26 GMT
Hi, Its not a total right off as they said they do private functions so there is always hope. The story goes alocal policeman took the £5 challenge to stay the night and spent the evening wittling at a bit of wood surrounded by candles. In front of him mist startyed to raise out of the ground and the figure of the murdered woman started walking towards him from the only part of the cave system that does not echo. He ran backwards out of the cave and smacked his head on the ceiling rendering himself out cold until he was dicovered the following morning. A priest is also said to have died of heart attack over something in there as well so they are cautious to say the least.....  |
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