The unassuming London car park hiding a huge 22-mile network of caves

A bird’s eye view of the carpark in Bromley that hides a fascinating cave network (Picture: YouTube/Chislehurst Caves)

On the outskirts of London, under a very unassuming car park lies an incredible 22-mile network of caves many know nothing about.

The Chislehurst Caves, in the south east borough of Bromley, are entirely manmade, starting out as chalk and flint mines hundreds of years ago.

The mining came to an end in the 1900s and the labyrinth was opened up to the public for tours.

During World War One it was used as a munitions storage facility, in the 1920s and 30s mushrooms were grown there and when the capital was hit by the Blitz in World War Two it became a massive air raid shelter, keeping 15,000 people safe from German bombing.

In more recent years it’s played host to well-known musicians, with David Bowie among those performing in its tunnels.

How old are the caves?

It’s not known exactly how far back the caves date. Early 20th century archaeologist William Nichols, then vice president of the British Archaeological Association, suggested they may have been made by the Druids, Romans and Saxons.

The caves were once chalk mines (Picture: Paul Brown/REX/Shutterstock)

However, this has since been disputed and now thought unlikely.

The earliest mention of the mines, and lime burning kilns the chalk was used for, is in a 9th century charter. They were then mentioned once again in 1232.

Meanwhile, the earliest documented evidence of a chalk mine is in 1737 and it’s thought the caves were most active and developed in the 18th and 19th century.

During their final working years, the caves were used to produce lime, before closing some time in the 1860s.

Their first mention was in a 9th century charter (Picture: Paul Brown/REX/Shutterstock)

Chislehurst Caves during World War II

When London was hit by the Blitz, the caves were cleaned, and kitted out with electricity, a hospital, hundreds of beds, several canteens and even a cinema, reports The Mirror.

Every evening at 7pm the caves would open to the public, with adults charged six pence and children thruppence a week to stay in what was dubbed the Chislehurst Hotel.

Regulars would usually have a spot they’d claimed as their own, personalising it as much as they could, while occasional visitors took whatever was left.

With thousands sheltering in the caves during the bombing, toilet facilities often became overwhelmed.

A children’s Birthday party in the Chislehurst Caves after World War Two, around 1954. (Picture: Arthur
/Mirrorpix)

Birthday celebrations around 1954 (Picture: Bela Zola/Daily Herald/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

To tackle the issue, guests were asked to bring their own containers for when they needed to go at night. But this came with its own problems, such as people accidently knocking them over once lights were out.

One woman gave birth to a child in the caves, and at the suggestion of the midwife, named the girl Cavena.

What musicians played at the caves?

Chislehurst Caves was a popular music venue from the 50s until the 80s. Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix played there twice, while David Bowie performed in the space four times.

Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones have also staged concerts in the caves and Led Zeppelin held a record launch party there, according to HistoryHit.com.

John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Boz Burrell of Bad Company at a party in the caves for the release of The Pretty Things’ ‘Silk Torpedo’ album in 1974 (Picture: Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music/Getty Images)

A group of jazz fans during a party held in the Caves in 1957 (Picture: Pace/Getty Images)

Musicians playing in the caves around 1960 (Picture: Gamma-Keystone)

The space was also hired for other, non music events such as birthday parties.

Have the caves featured on TV and film?

The caves have indeed featured on both TV and film. They appeared in an episode of Doctor Who in 1972 titled The Mutants, a series called Seven Natural Wonders presented by Bill Oddie in 2005, where the caves were featured as one of the wonders London, and in two episodes of ghost hunting show, Most Haunted.

They also make an appearance in British films Beat Girl (1960), The Tribe (1998) and Inseminoid (1981).

You can explore the caves on a guided tour (Picture: Paul Brown/REX/Shutterstock)

Can you visit the caves today?

The caves are open to the general public, although anyone wanting to explore must join a lamp-lit guided tours.

Tours leave on the hour and last for around 45-50 minutes and tickets can be booked online or on the day from the ticket office.

The caves are open Wednesdays to Sunday, on Bank Holidays (except Christmas and New Year) and every day during local school holidays.

Tickets are £8 for standard adults and £6 for seniors 60 and children 3-15. Kids under 3 go free.

The caves are also available for event hire.

Visit chislehurst-caves.co.uk for more information.

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