Chislehurst Caves, Historic cave system in Chislehurst, England
Chislehurst Caves is an underground network of tunnels and chambers carved through chalk deposits in the London Borough of Bromley. The passages extend for many kilometers and connect rooms of different sizes, linked by narrow corridors and more open areas.
Excavation began in the 13th century to extract chalk for local building projects and continued over the centuries. In the mid-20th century, the site served as a shelter during World War Two, when thousands of Londoners took refuge here from bombing raids.
The name comes from the medieval settlement of Chislehurst and refers today to tunnel systems that served for centuries as a source of chalk for building projects. Visitors enter a world that after the war became a concert hall for major rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s, when thousands of people gathered underground to hear music.
Visits take place only with a guide who carries a lantern and leads the way through the passages. Warm clothing is advisable, as the temperature underground remains cool throughout the year, and sturdy footwear helps when walking on uneven ground.
During the war, entire families lived here for months and organized an underground life with schools, churches, and even a hospital. The electrical lighting and sanitation facilities installed at the time made it possible for residents to manage daily life deep beneath the surface.
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