Hellfire Caves, Show cave in West Wycombe, England
The Hellfire Caves are a network of hand-carved chalk tunnels beneath the hills of West Wycombe in England. Visitors walk through chambers such as the Banqueting Hall and the Inner Temple, reached by crossing a passage named after the River Styx.
The tunnels were greatly expanded in the 1740s by Sir Francis Dashwood, who founded the notorious Hellfire Club. The chalk removed during the digging was used to build the road between West Wycombe and High Wycombe, giving local workers income during a time of poor harvests.
The tunnels have uneven floors and some low ceilings, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. Pushchairs and wheelchairs cannot enter the caves, but the entrance area has parking for strollers, a courtyard, a tea room, and a gift shop.
The caves are said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman named Suki, a barmaid in the 18th century who died after a cruel prank played by jealous men. Visitors sometimes report seeing a figure in the tunnels or hearing unexplained sounds, and special ghost tours are held around Halloween.
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